Elastic therapeutic tape is a self-adhesive material that can help with not only preventing, but also healing injuries. Elastic tape works by supporting and compressing the injured body parts, as well as improving blood flow.
Elastic therapeutic tape has a long history, dating back to ancient times. It has become more popular in recent years, especially among athletes and sports fans. In this article, we will explore the effectiveness and benefits of elastic tape.
The Effectiveness of Elastic Therapeutic Tape
Kinesiology tape is a special tape that can help with pain and movement. It can pull on the skin and muscles gently, while still letting you move freely.
The tape features cotton materials, which means it can dry quickly if it gets exposed to water and moisture. In other words, you can shower with elastic therapeutic tape. Despite this, it is not recommended to swim with it since it will not last long if you don’t keep it dry.
To apply elastic tape, you can cut it to fit any part of your body so that it wraps around the body part that needs support perfectly. Elastic therapeutic tape is flexible enough and will not impede your range of motion when applied. Despite its high level of flexibility, the tape works to hold muscles and tendons in place.
How Elastic Therapeutic Tape Compares to Other Tapes
Elastic therapeutic tape works differently from other types of athletic tape products, especially rigid therapeutic tape. Rigid taping has long been used in sports. It is used primarily to physically support different kinds of joints by limiting their movements.
The elastic model, on the other hand, is quite stretchy. In fact, it must be applied in a stretched position. The stretchiness encourages lymph drainage within the area.
Elastic therapeutic tape will not restrict joint movements. This makes the device very effective in healing ankle sprains, when the joint becomes weak. The tape also provides skin stimulation from the affected area, which alerts the brain to induce muscle and joint activation.
When it comes to duration, elastic therapeutic tape will usually last longer. Even so, you must replace it regularly if you want higher efficacy. Rigid tape, on the other hand, must be removed often because it will cause discomfort to the user.
The material factor is another thing that sets elastic and rigid tapes apart. Rigid tapes usually include materials like zinc oxide and synthetic fibers. This can cause allergic reactions for some people.
While both elastic and rigid therapeutic tapes can provide benefits to their users, one needs to understand which product suits their condition best before they get one.
When and How to Use Elastic Therapeutic Tape for Healing
Athletes often use elastic therapeutic tape to provide support to vulnerable and injured areas. For example, it may be applied to knees, ankles, wrists, and other injury-prone areas. The tape is also effective in reducing swelling and promoting healing.
For arch and forefoot areas, elastic therapeutic tape can be often used with the circular arch technique. The application technique is most commonly used to provide mild support to the foot’s longitudinal arch and treat longitudinal arch strains.
The tape can also play a critical role in the treatment of ankle injuries. You can use it to immobilize certain parts of the ankle if you experience a fracture. For athletes who suffered ankle injuries previously, this tape can be used to strengthen the ankle structures.
For the lower leg area, elastic therapeutic taping can be used to heal ruptures and overuse injuries. To help a patient transition back to normal activity, peroneal tendon taping can be used. The goal here is to limit excessive both the inversion and eversion of the subtalar joint.
The tape is also applicable in treating a wide variety of knee injuries. The McConnell taping technique is a very popular technique to treat patellofemoral syndrome. The use of hyperextension taping is also possible to reduce the stretching of soft tissues around the knee.
When Not to Use Elastic Therapeutic Tape
There are some physical conditions in which elastic therapeutic tape must not be used. For example, you should avoid using it if you have deep vein thrombosis. The increase in fluid flow can possibly cause a blood clot to dislodge, which is dangerous.
You should also not use the tape over an open wound because it may lead to skin damage and infection. This is especially true if you have diabetes. Because those with diabetes can occasionally experience reduced sensation, they might not notice any negative reaction.
Lastly, if you have allergies and your skin is sensitive to adhesive materials, the tape may trigger an unwanted reaction.
Choosing the Right Elastic Therapeutic Tape
If you go to any sports equipment shop, whether it is online or offline, you will find a lot of athletic tape varieties. So, which one should you get for yourself? You can actually get any type you want, as long as it suits your budget and activity level.
If you don’t know where to buy elastic therapeutic tape, you can always go to Hampton Adams. Hampton Adams provides high quality elastic therapeutic tape that provides many preventive and healing benefits.
The Takeaway
Elastic therapeutic is a helpful tool to preventing or healing from injury. If you think you could benefit from tape, visit the Hampton Adams store to see some high quality options!