K-Tapes: How do They Work?

As Americans, we are used to the imagery of professional sports teams competing against one another. After all, didn’t this year’s Superbowl proved that 120 million of us can be bothered to stop our Sunday activities for the meantime just so we can watch a game of men passing and stealing pigskins from one another?

Regardless of which sports you follow, one thing that is constant with all of them are the injuries. And with injuries come the most common quick-fix solution that everyone uses in lieu of long-term management: the kinesiotape.

So, how does taping an injured ligament actually facilitate the healing process? Well, as with all things, there is more than meets the eye than simply having a colorful bandage applied on your leg, if you happen to have injured it.

Invented by Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase sometime during the mid-‘70s, the K-tape exploded in popularity after Lance Armstrong—who was at his athletic and commercial peak during 2008—began using it during competitions at the Beijing Olympics. While its colorful aesthetics was the main reason why it became so popular in the first place, it is the mechanics behind it which gave it a wholly legitimate status among physical therapists all around the world.

The kinesiotape has the capability of targeting any injured tissue by upraising the skin and muscle to a ligament, therefore allowing blood and fluids to flow more rapidly to the injured area at question. In short, the K-tape facilitates recovery time at a quicker pace than usual.

On the other hand, the K-tape can also support the muscle even in times of frequent activity. While it lessens any risk for further injury, it is its ability to reduce the pain associated with rigorous movement that made it very popular among both pro and amateur athletes from every sporting discipline.

Does K-tape differ greatly from a “traditional” bandage tape, though? Well, while it may seem like both tapes are applied in the same way, the common tape can only restrict the injured area, but does not offer any mobility when it comes to movement. In essence, it was even delaying the healing time of any injured tissue because of the fact that the tighter it is applied, the lesser the blood can flow through the body part to help it heal effectively. This, in short, is why K-tape is becoming the bandage of choice when it comes to supporting and healing injuries.

(Source: thevarsity.ca)