Sports are widely accepted and celebrated around the world. However, to maintain the entertainment value, athletes are sometimes forced to endure unbearable training and pain to be fit for games. This has compelled them to look for ways to improve their performance while avoiding injuries caused by fatigue.
The use of athletic tape has stood the test of time and remains effective. It is widely used in various sports such as basketball, soccer, and football. These tapes can help athletes improve their workouts while also keeping them injury-free.
Why is Athletic Tape Important?
Athletic tape is used to support muscles all over the body in various ways. There are multiple theories as to why and how athletic tape works. It limits muscle activity and aids in proprioception, the body’s innate ability to determine where the joints are positioned. When athletes move specific muscles, they can feel the athletic tape on their bodies and determine which were associated with their injuries. Individuals and athletes use this tape for various body repairs.
When is it Best to Use Athletic Tape?
- Injury Prevention
Using athletic tape has become one of the most dependable methods of preventing athletic injuries. This has compelled various manufacturers to create more reliable and body-friendly Self Adhesive Athletic Tape, which is then distributed to athletes—using a good athletic tape assists in keeping the body’s joints, bones, or muscles in a good position during sporting activities.
Athletic tapes are commonly used on the wrists, ankles, and hands. In addition, wearing athletic tape adds support, which aids in the prevention of breaks, sprains, and injuries that may occur during exercise and sports activities.
Athletic tapes and other traditional sports equipment have been widely used for over a decade. However, its popularity and acceptance in physical sporting activities such as football, basketball, soccer, and rugby have skyrocketed.
Nowadays, most athletes have discovered ways to incorporate Colored Athletic Tape into their sportswear while participating in sports activities.
This tape is so important that athletes can use it during competition preparation to stimulate the skin slightly, leaving enough space between the muscles and skin and increasing lymphatic drainage and blood flow. So they don’t strain their muscles when they compete.
Increased blood flow can prevent joint and muscle spasms, cramps, and other athletic injuries. The most intriguing aspect of athletic tape is that it doesn’t limit body motion. It allows athletes to remain flexible and comfortable while exercising.
Because it reduces inflammation, this tape has been shown to improve athletes’ range of motion.
Suppose an athlete exercises excessively and is at risk of chronic cramps or muscle fatigue; it is strongly advised that they use athletic tape to help alleviate such risk during workouts.
- Athletic Rehabilitation
Although most athletes wear various safety wears during sporting activities to avoid injuries, these injuries do happen and can significantly impact the athlete. In the event of an injury, the tape can be useful during rehabilitation.
The best way to treat recovering athletes is to gradually reintroduce them to the sport. This helps them emotionally and treats them in the event of post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, it is recommended that you avoid exposing them to too much stress because they can easily be injured again and suffer a relapse.
Conventional athletic tape limits the motion range for specific joints and muscles and can help the injured part heal faster than when body movements are not limited. This tape can also be used as a brace for injured joints, allowing the injury to heal within a shorter time.
Conventionally, the tape can reduce the risk of swollen joints, relieving pain and avoiding injury complications by compressing the muscle.
Some athletes, however, use elastic therapeutic tape for rehabilitation. Elastic therapeutic tape and athletic tape are effective rehabilitation measures; however, athletic tape produces faster results.
It aids in pain relief by increasing blood flow to the injured areas and decreasing swelling. The athletic tape’s elasticity can also provide support for the affected part.
It naturally returns to its original position and size, relieving some of the strain on the athlete’s muscle. In addition, it allows the athlete to flex the muscle, which gradually aids the healing process.
Suppose the doctors give the athlete the green light to resume sports activity. In that case, they can continue wearing the athletic tape to support the previously injured area and keep it from damaging again.
It also helps to keep pain at bay and aids in the correction of any form of problems caused by injury or pre-existing conditions. A physiotherapist can conduct an injury analysis by placing athletic tape in the best position for their injury.
This could also aid in correcting their form and improving their performance while protecting the athlete from further injury.
- Management and Treatment of Chronic Injuries.
Although athletic tapes are commonly associated with athletes, people use them to treat certain chronic pain issues that they may experience. This problem could be caused by daily stress and fatigue.
The application of athletic tape can aid in the relief of muscular discomfort. Except in extreme circumstances, the use of drugs is strongly discouraged. The athletic tape has aided in reducing chronic pain, and the method is highly recommended due to its efficacy.
Athletic tape relieves the pain caused by headaches and migraines, people who frequently wear them report fewer headaches and a reduction in migraine severity. It also relieves back and neck pain by improving posture and allowing effortless blood flow.
Furthermore, the tape can be used to treat conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis; this shows that a person does not have to be an athlete to acknowledge the tape’s utility, importance, and capabilities.
Types of Athletic Tapes:
There are various types of athletic tapes. Some of which include:
- Rigid tape
Rigid tape is made of a stiff material that reduces joint movement. It has a strong, zinc-oxide-based glue that adheres well to the skin.
- Under tape
Under tape is designed to complement rigid tape by going underneath it. As a result, it feels better on the skin.
- Elastic tape
As the name implies, elastic tape is more flexible and can be used on skin, soft tissues, and muscles. It is typically made of cotton, which is more body-friendly and allows the skin to breathe.
- Felt tape
The felt tape acts as a skin barrier. It contains no glue and is mostly recommended for people with allergies.
- Cohesive Tape
The cohesive tape contains no glue and adheres to itself when wrapped around a muscle or joint.
How Should I Apply Athletic Tape?
Make sure your skin is clean before applying the athletic tape.
Also, ensure that the skin’s surface is free of topical injuries or other skin conditions.
Position the tape according to your physiotherapist’s or trainer’s instructions, and reinforce it with protective padding if necessary. The application of athletic tape is largely determined by the muscle being taped.
Ensure the tape goes on smoothly and isn’t so tight against the skin that blood circulation is cut off. If you begin to feel “pins and needles” after applying the tape, you should remove it because the tape may be too tight.
How Do I Remove Athletic Tape?
Instead of ripping it off in pieces, you can simply cut it off with scissors.
Athletic tape loses its adhesive over time, and the colors may change. This will be due to excessive sweat and dirt. However, you should remove it before it causes skin irritation.
How Do I Get An Excellent Athletic Tape?
The athletic tape market has been plagued with a lot of inferior products. This has made getting reliable and durable athletic tape tough.
If you are looking for the best athletic tape, you should consider getting some from Hampton Adams. They come in different packs and sizes designed to complete the job perfectly. You also get different colors that perfectly blend into your sports outfit and still serve their purpose effectively.
Remember:
It is critical to use athletic tape only on healthy skin. Consider using athletic tape as part of your daily routine rather than as a quick fix for muscle and joint pain. Remember that allowing your muscles to rest and heal naturally is the best type of care you can give them. To avoid amputation, seek medical attention for any muscle or joint pain.
