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Re: what is the name of the stretchy sports tape i see used by athletes ? [llewis]
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Re: what is the name of the stretchy sports tape i see used by athletes ? [SharkFM]
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SharkFM wrote:
My favorite is the Rock Tape, seems to hold up better in the pool. Use alcohol to remove skin oil and promote adhesion. The tape works by providing an obviously thin connective link between areas of body - you know, usually around joints.
It doesn't take much to throw a joint out of whack, particularly with RSI problems. It's like when movement goes 5% over the allowable threshold for a particular pattern.
So the tape allows a more balanced movement pattern, bringing the joint closer to proper alignment and function, reducing the effects of RSI. That is why you see cyclists, swimmers, lifters - any sport with lots of rep movements using the stuff.
Consider it an evolution of rigid taping for bigger injuries vs rock tape - mild injury /joint inflammation.
Does it work?? It's a great invention, and yes it does work, where just a little support is required. You gotta know what you are doing, mechanically too. Being an engineer I can add tension where I need too, for example to stabilize my loose ankle and thus protect my Achilles.
Water-skiers use duct tape for ankles, elbows, etc. because it works in water and can slip out of rubber bindings. Duct tape holds a lot of force, then shreds with movement. Two or three layers of Rock tape holds much less force, but moves naturally with the body.
That's a very different explanation of it to the one provided by the company which can be read here http://rocktape.net/about-us/. They give the usual kinesiotape claim that it "decompresses the skin" and allows better circulation etc. which as far as I know was made up by the bloke who invented it and has no evidence base. I don't think anyone claims that kinesiotape is good for joint support - you want proper athletic tape for that.
Re: what is the name of the stretchy sports tape i see used by athletes ? [Cafe Lactate]
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Cafe Lactate wrote:
Placebo Tape™Francois-Xavier Li @FrancoisLi
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." George Bernard Shaw
http://www.swimrunfrance.fr
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