The Importance of Athletic Tape and When to Use It | IMPACT Physical Therapy (2024)

The Importance of Athletic Tape and When to Use It | IMPACT Physical Therapy (1)

The world of sports and fitness is a constantly evolving one. It seems that every week, athletes are trying something new to enhance their performance and preserve their body’s health. Even those who are simply looking to maintain their own personal fitness are trying new and trendy exercise preparation methods. One method that remains effective and has withstood the test of time is the use of athletic tape. From track stars and NBA players to those just beginning their fitness journey, the benefits of athletic tape can help any exerciser improve their workout and, more importantly, stay injury free. Here are some of the different types of athletic tape and how they might help you.

Preventing Injury

Traditional taping is one of the most common methods of preventing injury, especially among athletes. This is a method that involves using a more rigid athletic tape in an effort to keep muscles or bones in a certain position. This is especially used in areas of the body near joints, such as ankles, wrists, and hands. This added support can help prevent sprains, breaks, or other injuries that may occur from exercise and competitive sports.

Athletes also use less restrictive tape to help prevent injuries. Elastic therapeutic tape is one of the most popular types of athletic tape. Its popularity skyrocketed after the 2008 Beijing Olympics when most of the athletes were seen wearing the colorful material on their skin while competing. What makes this athletic tape important is that it is used during exercise preparation in an effort to slightly lift the skin, leaving enough room between the skin and muscles to increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage. Essentially, the increased flow can help prevent muscle cramps, spasms, and other common athletic injuries. Athletic tape is also unique in that it does not restrict the range of motion, allowing athletes to maintain their flexibility and comfort while exercising or competing. In fact, this athletic tape has been known to increase the range of motion for athletes since it reduces inflammation. If you’re somebody who suffers from chronic muscle fatigue or cramps, the athletic tape could be the key to alleviate this during your workouts. Though useful, elastic therapeutic tape should always be applied by a certified athletic training professional to prevent injury and increase effectiveness.

Rehabilitation

Though athletic tape can help prevent injuries caused by exercise, injuries can, unfortunately, still occur. When they do, athletic tape can be the effective remedy you need. The use of traditional athletic tape in limiting the range of motion for certain muscles and joints can help the body heal faster versus if the movement was not restricted. It can also serve as a splint for sprained joints, which helps the injury heal at a much faster rate as well. By compressing the muscle, traditional athletic tape can help decrease swelling, which can alleviate pain and prevent further injury.

Elastic therapeutic tape is used for the same reasons but in different ways. By helping to increase blood flow in the injured area, athletic tape decreases swelling which alleviates pain. The elasticity of the athletic tape can also serve as support for the affected muscles. It naturally goes back to its original position, which takes some of the workload off of the athlete’s muscle. When the athlete is well enough to return to their sport or activity, the tape can help support the previously affected area from re-injury and keep any pain at bay. Athletic tape can also help correct any form issues that may stem from injury or preexisting conditions. A trainer can perform a runner’s analysis to apply the tape in an optimal position for their injury, helping fix their form and prevent further harm.

Chronic Issues

Though athletic tape is often associated with fitness and athletes, it can also be used to help treat certain issues of chronic pain that people may suffer from. Athletic tape, specifically elastic therapeutic tape, has been used to relieve discomfort caused by chronic pain. Rather than resort to surgery or painkillers, athletic tape has been known to decrease some of the pain caused by this common ailment for more than 100 million Americans. Using athletic tape on the back and neck has also been used to alleviate headaches and migraines. By helping improve a person’s posture and allowing easier blood flow in the neck and back, wearers of athletic tape have reported less frequent headaches and a decreased severity in their migraines. It can also be used to help with other conditions such as carpal tunnel and tendonitis, which goes to show that you do not necessarily need to be an athlete to appreciate the importance, usefulness and capabilities of athletic tape.

Receive Athletic Tape Advice Near You

Athletes and everyday people alike have been utilizing athletic tape and reaping the benefits. A simple visit to one of our six physical therapy locations could be the visit that helps improve your quality of life. Whether you’re suffering from an athletic injury, need help in exercise preparation, or are looking for help with a chronic issue, IMPACT Physical Therapy is here to help with our large range of physical therapy specialties. Feel free to contact us at any time to set up a screening or consultation and one of our trained professionals will be more than happy to help you on training, recovery, and the road to a better life.

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The Importance of Athletic Tape and When to Use It | IMPACT Physical Therapy (2024)

FAQs

The Importance of Athletic Tape and When to Use It | IMPACT Physical Therapy? ›

By helping to increase blood flow in the injured area, athletic tape

athletic tape
It is a procedure that uses athletic tape (pressure-sensitive tape similar to surgical tape or elastic therapeutic tape), attached to the skin, to physically hold muscles or bones at a certain position. This reduces pain and aids recovery. Taping is usually used to help recover from overuse and other injuries.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Athletic_taping
decreases swelling which alleviates pain. The elasticity of the athletic tape can also serve as support for the affected muscles. It naturally goes back to its original position, which takes some of the workload off of the athlete's muscle.

What is the purpose of tape in physical therapy? ›

Taping is commonly used as an adjunct or temporary technique. Athletes often make use of taping as a protective mechanism in the presence of an existing injury. Some of the goals with taping are to restrict the movement of injured joints, soft tissue compression to reduce swelling.

What are the benefits of muscle taping? ›

Proper taping also enables weak muscles to function efficiently, reduces pain and fatigue, and protects against cramping, over-extension, and over-contraction. Improved Athletic Performance: By supporting unstable joints and delivering slight pressure to “sleeping” muscles, taping can prompt higher performance.

When to use kinesiology tape? ›

The Kinesio taping method is used for Injuries and Chronic Pain:
  1. Back sprains and strains.
  2. Neck aches.
  3. Shoulder pain/injuries.
  4. Knee pain.
  5. Sports injuries.
  6. Trigger point pain.
  7. Pregnancy.

What are the benefits of taping? ›

Here are some of the tape's other benefits:
  • Taping Reduces Swelling and Inflammation. Swelling and inflammation caused by muscle injuries can be bothersome. ...
  • Tape Creates Spaces In Joints to Prevent From Rubbing Together. ...
  • Taping Improves Blood and Fluids Circulation. ...
  • Taping Stimulates Bruise & Contusion Recovery.

Why is athletic tape important? ›

By helping to increase blood flow in the injured area, athletic tape decreases swelling which alleviates pain. The elasticity of the athletic tape can also serve as support for the affected muscles. It naturally goes back to its original position, which takes some of the workload off of the athlete's muscle.

What is the primary purpose of taping? ›

1. What is the primary purpose of tape or elastic wraps? To provide additional support, stability, and compression for the affected body part.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of taping? ›

Ankle Taping Vs Bracing: Which is Better?
Advantages of tapingDisadvantages of taping
Generally more comfortable in the short termHigher risk of skin irritation, especially with longer term use
Cheaper in the short termRequires someone else to apply (or a lot of practice to effectively do it yourself
3 more rows
Dec 1, 2020

What is the difference between athletic tape and kinesiology tape? ›

Athletic tape is thick and relatively inflexible. It limits motion by holding muscles and bones in a specific position. Kinesiology tape is thin and flexible. The stretchy adhesive is designed to support your muscles and joints without limiting your range of motion.

What are the disadvantages of taping? ›

Cons
  • Material and glue may irritate skin.
  • Needs frequent re-application if long term support is required.
  • Non-reusable therefore if required for long term can be costly.
  • Requires someone else (e.g. a sports physio) to apply for you (unless you have practised a dozen times although will still be awkward)
Nov 20, 2018

When not to use Kinesio tape? ›

If you're looking to use kinesiology tape, you should contact a medical professional before using it if you have:
  1. Fragile skin.
  2. Taking blood thinners.
  3. Taking any hormone replacement therapy.
  4. If you're on any medication that affects your circulatory system.

What is the science behind kinesiology tape? ›

According to Dorney, k-tape recruits blood vessels in a way that helps place blood flow where the tape is applied. The result is increased oxygen and decreased inflammation and swelling.

What are the side effects of kinesio taping? ›

Skin irritation (such as dryness, redness, stinging), drowsiness, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away.

Why is tape used in physical therapy? ›

Kinesiology tape is a thin, flexible tape that was developed to aid muscle movement and enhance athletic performance. It is often used to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation and provide support to joints and muscles. The elasticity, or stretchiness, of kinesiology tape allows for movement.

Does taping help healing? ›

A: Tape supports the body's natural healing process by microscopically lifting layers of skin[. This microscopic lifting stabilizes muscles and tissues, helps your lymph system drain excess fluid and reduce swelling.

Is kinesiology tape a placebo? ›

Kinesio Taping is a widely used intervention for patients with low back pain. This study has shown that the effects of Kinesio Taping are the same as a placebo. Physical therapists should not use Kinesio Taping in patients with chronic lower back pain.

What is a tape measure used for in physical therapy? ›

The physical therapists at Glendale Adventist Medical Center have used the tape measuring method to assess neck motions for 3 years. Most therapists enjoy the simplicity of application and feel the tape measuring method is reliable.

What is the purpose of body tape? ›

Body tape has become one of the most versatile and essential fashion accessories, and it can be used in many different ways in everyday life. It is mainly known for its discreet and dependable breast support, but it can also be used to achieve a lifted and smooth look without the need for traditional bras.

What is the purpose of tape test? ›

Tape Test means a Product to determine skin Sterol levels using a medical grade adhesive to non-invasively obtain a sample of skin which is then sent to a medical laboratory for processing, as shown by the prototype drawings and summary in Appendix K.

What is the purpose of taping devices? ›

While they are primarily used for sound recording, tape machines were also important for data storage before the advent of floppy disks and CDs, and are still used today, although primarily to provide backup.

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