Athletic Taping Provides Increased Muscle Stability, Mobility, and Recovery
Athletic taping has long been used by players to help improve their grip – particularly in baseball and hockey. But it truly shines when it’s used to support overworked or inflamed muscles, as any training athlete can tell you. Traditional tape generally overlaps gauze and helps keep it in place to prevent additional movement of the injured muscle, tissue or tendon. The theory is, the less the muscle moves, the less it can be strained and therefore the faster it will heal. While this idea has been the main point of most athletic tapes for decades, new findings are beginning to support more flexible brands of tape which include elasticity and breathable fabric to allow mobility even for sore or injured muscles.
What Parts Of The Body Can Benefit Most?
Athletic taping can be done just about anywhere on the body where you have pain. Medical researchers have discovered that the tape is useful for shoulder and rotator cuff injuries, as well as wrist, knee and ankle problems. No matter where you place it, it’s important to allow the taped area to “breathe” in order to avoid a buildup of sweat and dead skin cells which can be the perfect breeding ground for certain types of fungus and bacteria and can turn your injured area into a hotbed of infection. Most doctors advise that muscle injuries be worked out gradually – using as much weight as you are comfortable placing on the affected area. If you’re beginning to exercise moderately – a buildup of sweat under the athletic tape means you should continue to apply fresh tape every few hours as needed. Even if you’re resting, be sure to change the tape every 2-3 days.
Athletic Taping Techniques
Athletic tape is very easy to apply. You can cut or tear off small strips and apply them to the length of the muscle to hold it in place. For injuries such as arms or wrists, make sure not to apply the tape to the extended part of the body, otherwise this could exacerbate the injury and slow healing time. Be sure the muscle you are applying the athletic tape to is fully relaxed. You may wish to use some pre wrap if you don’t like the stickiness of the tape and the difficulty of removing it. Wrap the tape snugly but not too tight that it completely restricts movement or cuts off circulation. Again, this can further stress the tissue, tendon or muscle that’s healing.
Which Athletic Tape Should I Buy?
When utilizing athletic taping methods, you may have gotten recommendations from your trainer or coach, or you may not have a preference. Some people find tape that fits their team colors, and it’s comfortable for them to wear all day. Others prefer breathable cotton tape or the Olympic favorite, Kinesio tape. Experiment with different brands on different areas of the body to find one you like the best. Once you find one, stick with it (no pun intended!) and you’ll be taking the right step toward keeping your body in peak shape.
Athletic Taping is a crucial part of sports medicine today. With so many different methods and techniques available, one must be sure to choose correctly the best way to treat, stabilize, and mobilize injured and sore muscles. Joe Giovinco and his team at Med 101 work hard every day to research different types of Athletic tape and more. To learn more about their project visit the industry-leading authority AthleticTapeStore.com for the most up-to-date information.
