Used for many years by physiotherapists, taping is a simple, non-invasive treatment that you can use to support your muscles and joints from injuries. It works by increasing the stability of a joint or muscle. This article will explain the concept of taping, how it works, and the benefits you can gain from it after a sports injury.
What is Taping?
Taping is an easy-to-use, low-cost method that can support and stabilize an injured area of your body. For example, taping supports muscles or joints by applying pressure to the skin. As a result, it helps prevent further injury, reduces pain, and improves range of motion.
Taping is often used in sports medicine to treat shoulder injuries, ankle sprains, and knee injuries. You can also use it when recovering from a joint or muscle surgery to provide support while healing.
It’s crucial to know that there are different kinds of tapes available, which are non-elastic and elastic:
- Non-elastic tape is most commonly used because it doesn’t stretch or break over time as elastic tape does. Non-elastic tapes support joints or muscles that need extra stability, such as ankles and knees.
- Elastic tapes have a little flexibility to them, making them suitable for areas such as shoulders, wrists, and hands.
It’s also essential to select a reputable brand when buying these tapes. We have a wide variety at Hampton Adams, from Finger Tapes to Kinesiology Tapes and Kinesiology Athletic Tape. You can tear our tapes simply with your fingers! Our tape is very strong, but there is no need for tape cutters!
When should I tape?
The best time to apply tape is as soon as possible after the injury. It is because it allows the tape to work with your body by providing support and protection from further damage.
Ideally, you should apply tape on top of any swelling that may occur after an acute injury, for example, on sprains. It will help stop you from doing more damage while allowing your body time and space to recover from the initial incident.
How do I tape?
Many types of tapes can be used for different purposes. Still, they all have the same basic functions: they provide support, protection, and stability to injured areas. Taping can also help you regain the range of motion in joints by reducing swelling around them.
So how do you use the tape? The process is quite simple, as you can see below:
- Clean the skin with mild soap and water.
- Apply the tape over the injured area.
- For strips, start by placing them at a 45-degree angle from your body, parallel to the injured area.
- Wrap it around, so it covers the entire site and overlaps itself by half an inch on each side.
What are the benefits of taping?
The benefits of taping include:
- Increased blood flow to the muscles, improved healing rate, and decreased pain.
- Increased muscle activation that can help prevent further damage to your injured areas.
- Increased range of motion, especially in more difficult-to-reach areas like elbows and hands. Beneficial when doing a sport that requires lots of arm movements (like swimming).
- It also helps with balance and coordination when moving around while injured.
As you now know, the benefits of taping are numerous. But do you know the benefits of Hampton Adams’ Tapes? The following are just some of the features of our Athletic Tapes:
- Made of a cotton substrate.
- Soft and comfortable.
- Excellent, tensile strength.
- Non-elastic, provide maximum compression.
- Easy to tear by hand lengthwise and widthwise.
- Strong and reliable stickiness.
- Constant unwinding tension.
- Leaves no residue on body parts.
- Economical.
How do I care for my taped area?
Keeping your taped area clean and dry is essential to get the most out of the taping. The skin under a tape can become irritated if it becomes dirty or wet, so you’ll want to wash your hands before applying the tape to your skin.
When not in use, keep your tape inside its packaging and store it away from direct sunlight or heat. Heat causes adhesives like athletic tape to lose their stickiness over time. You’ll also want to protect yourself from moisture when sweating by wearing long sleeves or tights under shorts when possible.
How do I remove the tape after it has been on for 48 hours?
Once you have worn the tape for 48 hours, it is time to remove it. The ideal way to do this is by using a hair dryer on the area where you applied the tape. It will help loosen any residue from being in contact with your skin for so long.
Once that is done, use a damp cloth and gently rub away any remaining pieces of tape or residue. Do not apply lotions or oils, as this could irritate your skin when removed.
You can also gently pull at one end of the tape while pulling off another so that it comes off in one piece. Once appropriately removed, do not put another layer of athletic tape over the top where there was previously no tape!
Do not apply heat to this area for 24 hours since this may lead back to inflammation. It would result in additional pain or discomfort during exercise sessions down the road, and nobody wants that!
The breathable, water-resistant material of Sweat Proof Athletic Tape allows for fast and effective results without compromising on comfort. The adhesive has been tested for use in a variety of sports activities and has received glowing reviews from users who say it stays put even during intense exercise.
What are the different types of tapes?
Though there are several types of tape, the two main ones are Athletic Tape and Kinesiology Tape. Athletic tape is the kind of tape you see on athletes during sports games.
This type of tape is typically white or black with a stripe of color down the middle. It comes in various widths, lengths, and thicknesses so that it can be used for varying levels of support on different parts of your body.
On the other hand, Kinesiology tape stretches like an elastic bandage when applied to your skin. Japanese physician Dr. Kenzo Kase originally developed this type of tape in 1974 after studying the work of Dr. Alexander Wolff, who used elastic bandages on patients.
It helped reduce inflammation and pain while allowing muscles to stretch more easily without causing further damage or discomfort. At the same time, they healed properly over a period without any harmful side effects.
Apart from Athletic and Kinesiology Tapes, an Elastic Compression Bandage is also a type of tape that is usually lightweight and has an elasticity that stretches well.
It’s often used to support muscles and tendons, or to cover wounds. In addition, there is also medical grade adhesive tape – strong, durable, and waterproof. You can use it to hold dressings in place on wounds until they’re healed enough for the dressing to be removed without causing any damage to healthy tissues.
Feel free to check out our wide range of tapes! Hampton Adams athletic tapes are the best and most trusted in the industry. We’re proud to offer high-quality products that are effective and affordable so that you can get back to your game quickly.
What are the types of sports injuries?
There are two main types of sports injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries happen suddenly—usually due to a direct blow or twist. Chronic injuries occur over time and are typically caused by overuse or repetitive motions.
Acute injuries are easier to treat with tape because they have not had time to develop into something more serious. Chronic injuries, on the other hand, usually require a much more holistic approach to treatment.
Furthermore, the most common sports injuries include sprains, strains, and fractures. These can be caused by overuse, lack of warming up before exercise, bad form during a sport (such as running), or by participating in an activity that you are not physically prepared for.
Taping is a great way to help heal your sports injuries
When you have a sports injury, taking care of it immediately is essential. The longer you wait, the more likely the injury will get worse. You should know that taping can be an excellent option for helping your body heal if you’re unsure what to do when you first get injured.
Taping helps the muscles in your body cooperate more efficiently. It also allows for better blood flow throughout those muscles, which helps promote healing and repair.
In addition, when you tape your injured area, it creates a barrier between the skin and muscle tissue so that they don’t rub against each other as much during movement or exercise. As a result, it can help relieve pain and soreness caused by friction between those tissues over time.
When you have a sports injury, getting treatment as soon as possible is crucial to get back in the game faster. But what if there was a way to ensure that your body is ready for when you return? What if there was something that could give your body the boost it needs while also relieving pain caused by the injury?
That’s where Hampton Adams comes in. We wish that you should be able to enjoy the activities you love without worrying about your sports injury. We are committed to providing you with high-quality, affordable taping supplies and accessories so that you can stay at the top of your game.
Our products are perfect whether you’re looking for an Athletic Tape or Kinesiology Tape to help you recover from an ankle sprain. They are designed to help athletes of all ages and abilities stay in the game.