Kinesiology tape is a specially developed high performance elastic athletic tape used to treat muscle and joint injuries. This particular brand of kinesiology tape comes in precut strips. Basic application directions in the video at the bottom of this listing.

KT Tape Review

KT Tape provides relief from muscle, helps increase mobility, and enhances recovery for athletes of all levels. This brand has been developed by Lumos Inc., which is based in Utah and designs products for the sports med and fitness industry. KT Tape is officially endorsed by Kerri Walsh, the two-time Olympic Beach Volley Ball Gold Medalist.

How it works. The Magic Tape.

Kinesiology Taping is intended to alleviate pain and facilitate lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. The taped portion forms convolutions in the skin, increasing interstitial space (tissue space). The result is that pressure and irritation are taken off the neural and sensory receptors, alleviating pain. Pressure is gradually taken off the lymphatic system, allowing it to channel more freely.

It can be difficult to grasp the concept around which this works. But it does. When it doesn't work, it's due to poor application technique, injury that is beyond the scope of what kinesiology tape can accomplish (ie. it won't fix a torn muscle), incorrect diagnosis and thus the wrong application.

Application of Kinesiology Tape is Key to its Effectiveness for your injury

For the best results, Kinesio Athletic Tape should be applied at least 30 minutes prior to exercise so the heat activated adhesive can adjust and bond with the skin temperature. The correct application means stretching it in the right places while applying depending on your injury or preventive goal. The kinesiology tape has 140% elasticity which matches that of human skin.

Does KT kinesiology tape offer support?

Kinesiology tape does offer the kind of physical support that will prevent your ankle from turning over. You'd use an ankle brace or tape with a sports tape such as mueller or coach tape for that type of support which limits your ROM or range of motion.

The Kinesiology Taping Method means taping over and around muscles to assist and give the kind of support that prevents over-contraction and allows full range of motion. This is different from the kind of support for which you'd use an athletic tape such as coach tape which is intended to limit range of motion. There has been a lot of confusion over the definition of support.

Easier-to-use, precut 10"strips

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KT Tape is packaged in easy-to-use, pre-cut strips. Each strip is 10 inches. The width is 2 inches wide but easily splits the width to 1-inch strips to make the “Y” strip for applications such as tennis elbow, knee and shoulder applications.

The machine cut ends and strong adhesive make the tape more water resistant as well as more user friendly.

The advantage of this tape is that you don’t have to have scissors, which makes things easier. But like all kinesiology tape, you do need to know how to apply it correctly for it to work best. Each package comes with instructions on some basic applications because application technique is important to its effectiveness.

A book, or the help of a qualified physical therapist who can teach you to apply it would not hurt. Lately, a number of these companies make videos to show people how to use the tape and KT Tape does have some good, specific, step-by-step demonstrations on the internet.

Which Kinesiology tape is best?

It depends.

Kinesio Tex, SpiderTech and KT Tape all work.

Kinesio Tex Tape will fray at the edges more since most people cut it with regular scissors. So use kinesio pro scissors or very sharp scissors such as those used for surgery or sewing. There is a slight difference in the glue as You get more tape for the dollar than other brands but applying it can be more difficult and it comes with no instructions. I do like that I can get a giant roll of this tape. I use it for applications that I am familiar with. Durability is about 3-5 days.

KT Tape is machine cut, but doesn't come in precut configurations. It does come with instructions on some basic injuries and video support on the internet is good. It’s glue is strong enough so an application lasts up to 4 days and most users report that it will make it through a hot tub soak. It is harder to find in large rolls.It is an easy application for plantar fasciitis as you do not have to fork tape it.

SpiderTech Tape is considered the most user friendly for consumers and video support to show application is excellent. It lasts anywhere from 4 to 7 days. It has the original strong kinesiology glue.

For common injuries, SpiderTech is considerably faster to apply and directions come on every package for that specific application. However, the only place a consumer can purchase it right now is at theratape.com because the manufacturer sells to sports med pros. While it’s more expensive, there is less wasted tape and it lasts longer. Durability is 4-7 days and very water resistant.

If you want a roll to throw in your sports bag, then a roll of Kinesio Tex or KT Tape is ideal. If you know what you suffer from and want to have that particular application in your bag for fast applying, the SpiderTech tape would be the one to have. If you want a large roll to keep at home, Kinesio Tex is the easiest to find in large rolls.

If you are hot tubber, SpiderTech is the strongest, KT is somewhat hot-tub friendly although I've found it to be the least sticky in the hot tub, and there is a extra water resistant kinesio tape that works well in the water.

If stickiness is an issue, most athletic trainers suggest a pre tape spray called Cramer Tuf Skin.

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The Basic how-tos for KT Kinesiology athletic tape.