Physical Therapy Tape - Kinesiology Tape, Sports Bandages & Blister Care Supplies

Physical therapy tape, better known as kinesiology tape, is the number one tape physical therapists use in their practice. It is closely followed by elastic bandages and athletic tape and is sometimes used together with blister care products that reduce tape friction and irritation as well as other orthopedic supplies that promote healing.

Therapeutic kinesiology tape is mostly used to support muscles, joints, and ligaments after sports and non-sports injuries or during strenuous activities. Common injuries that benefit from physical therapy tape include sprains, tendonitis, and muscle strains. RockTape® Kinesiology Tape, for instance, is also recommended for plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and back pain. Elastic athletic tape is widely used during exercise preparation to prevent muscle cramps and spasms, but also as a substitute for surgery or painkillers, helping patients deal with chronic pain.

Kinesiology tape helps relieve pain in muscles and joints and reduces swelling, thus increasing mobility and speeding up recovery. It enhances muscle tone and strength by preventing over-stretching and over-contraction of injured muscles and acting as a support for them and injured joints. Kinesiology tape can also help realign joints and remodel collagen tissues, which is why it is often used after trauma or surgery as part of the scar tissue management routine.

While applying a sports bandage or kinesiology tape to your arms, legs, and feet is perfectly doable, it is best to ask for advice from an experienced physical therapist beforehand. Depending on your specific problem, they can teach you how to apply therapy tape safely and evenly, without straining an area that is already affected. Besides determining the tape pattern you need — Y shape, I shape, or U shape —, they will also advise on how much to stretch the kinesiology tape so that it isn't too tight. If you need to apply tape to your neck, shoulders, or back, ask someone else to help and explain the necessary steps. You can also find PDF files and online videos from kinesiology tape manufacturers and physical therapists that will provide step-by-step taping guidance for your particular condition. Bear in mind that you should avoid taping on broken or damaged skin, if you are pregnant, or have active cancer, deep vein thrombosis, renal insufficiency, or congestive heart failure.

You can get Kinesio® Tex Pre-Cut Applications for feet, knees, wrists, neck, shoulders, and back. They are designed for simple taping around specific injured areas to provide adequate support and alleviate pain and swelling. If you are a practitioner, it is more convenient to buy Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape FP Rolls or SpiderTech Kinesiology Tape Rolls and cut them into custom-sized pieces. These are the most common body areas that benefit from physical therapy tape applications:

• Legs: Calf muscles, hip and iliotibial band, anterior and posterior shin splints, quads, groin, hamstring, glutes, and hip flexor.
• Feet: Achilles tendon, arch tendon (plantar fascia), ball of the foot, heel, bunion, top of the foot.
• Knees: Inner and outer knee, back of the knee, under the knee (tibial tuberosity), around the kneecap for full knee support.
• Back: Lower back, spine, sacroiliac joint, abdominals, rib cage, middle back.
• Shoulders: Rotator cuff, back of the neck/top of the shoulders, shoulder down to the elbow, AC joint, shoulder blade.
• Arms: Inner and outer elbow, wrist, bicep, tricep, thumb joint, finger joints.

Therapy tape is designed to be worn for several days at a time, but it is best to limit its usage to 2-3 days in a row, and have a one-day break to allow the skin to breathe in-between wears.

Kinesiology tape is water-resistant so showering, bathing, or swimming while having it on poses no problem. The only thing you must pay attention to is drying it afterward by gently patting it with a towel and waiting for about 30 minutes before engaging in any activity.