Elastic Therapeutic Tape

Elastic Therapeutic Tape

Elastic therapeutic tape, also known as kinesiology tape or KT tape, is an elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive that is purported to ease pain and disability from athletic injuries and a variety of physical disorders.elastic therapeutic tape The product is available in a wide range of widths, and several brands exist. Kenzo Kase developed the tape in the 1970s and he continues to market variants under his own brand name, Kinesio. Whether or not the tape actually helps to heal injured tissue is less certain, but research suggests that it does help relieve pain and improve function in some people.

In general, the tape is applied to a skin surface that has been cleaned of oil and sweat, then the adhesive is activated with light heat (usually with hand-rubbing or light application of a hairdryer).elastic therapeutic tape Then the tape is stretched along the affected muscles to its full length. The tape is believed to affect the skin by allowing a range of motion while also providing support to the muscles and joints and helping with lymphatic drainage.

A major benefit of the tape is that it can be worn for longer periods of time — 3-5 days — without losing its ability to adhere to the skin.elastic therapeutic tape It is also water-resistant, making it ideal for sports where the area being taped may become covered in sweat. The tape is also latex-free and can be worn by people with sensitive skin or who are allergic to latex.

Different brands of elastic tape have slightly different mechanical properties, but all are said to provide some degree of muscle facilitation. The key feature of all the products is their elastic properties.

The tapes are generally described as being "self-healing" because when the tape is removed, it re-adheres to the skin. The adhesive is made of a special type of glue that doesn't require the use of chemicals, so it can be safely used on a wide range of skin types and conditions.

Another advantage of the tape is that it can be applied to wet skin, so it can be worn while bathing or swimming. This is particularly useful in sports where the tape may be exposed to moisture or when a person may be sweating heavily, such as during a marathon race.

Some clinical studies have reported that using elastic tape increases the strength of muscles around an injury, and reduces pain during activity. However, other trials have shown that the tape doesn't significantly increase the strength of muscles or decrease pain in chronic musculoskeletal injuries. The researchers in these studies compared elastic tape to rigid, inelastic tape that fixes the joint in a fixed position. They found that the elastic tapes reduced the amount of stress on the treated area and that it didn't restrict blood flow.

Other studies have also compared elastic tape to other treatment approaches for pain and disability in people with chronic musculoskeletal injuries, including massage, physical therapy and medication. The results from these studies suggest that elastic tapes can relieve some pain and reduce the need for medications, but they don't show that they're as effective as other treatment methods in reducing disability.

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