If you watched the Olympics this past winter, you’ve undoubtedly seen high-profile athletes wearing brightly colored tape on their bodies. The tape is more than just a fashion statement; it’s a flexible cloth tape called kinesiology tape. Keep reading to find out why athletes use kinesiology tape at the Olympics.
What is kinesiology tape?
Traditionally, athletes have taped their muscles over gauze to form a stiff bandage so they can immobilize or support a joint to help it heal. Kinesiology tape (or kinesio tape for short) differs from traditional tape in the fact that it’s extremely flexible and strong and even has a proprietary taping technique. The tape is stretched across certain muscles in a specific pattern depending on the type of injury or muscle group. Olympic athletes all around the world are turning to kinesio tape to help relieve pain and heal muscle strains faster.
What are the benefits?
Kinesio tape was invented over 30 years ago by a Japanese doctor name Kenzo Kase. He says that kinesiology tape allows athletes to support their muscles and joints without restricting their movements by mimicking the elasticity of the skin. Other practitioners also claim that the tape lifts the skin to reduce inflammation and increase blood circulation.
However, many scientists have questioned the efficacy of kinesiology tape and whether or not it’s anything more than a colorful placebo. Some scientists argue that the physics of “lifting the skin” as simply sticking the tape on the skin cannot produce the opposite reaction necessary to lift the tape upward.
Furthermore, while many professional-level athletes really believe in the powers of kinesio tape, all the medical studies on kinesio tape have offered extremely inconsistent results, leading many to doubt the true benefits of the tape.
Should I use kinesiology tape?
It’s hard to say. Research currently is inconclusive on whether or not kinesio tape actually has real medical benefits, but it may be helpful when you’re recovering from an injury. If you’re seriously considering using kinesio tape, you may want to talk to a personal trainer so that they can give you a personalized assessment of your situation. Talk with a high-quality, local personal trainer in just minutes by using TalkLocal. It’s fast, easy, and completely free!
