Photo credit: KT Tape (used with permission, Facebook)
KT Tape can help runners push through common injuries such as ankle sprain, muscle strains, shin splints, and turf toe, among others.
Kinesiology therapeutic (KT) tape is growing in popularity among professional athletes (such as the U.S. national soccer team) and amateur sports enthusiasts. There are an estimated 3.5 million sports injuries each year, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Marathon Series
KT Tape, based in Lindon, Utah, provides tape accessories for physical and medical support. In particular, its applications appeal to runners and hikers. Throughout the year, the company is attending a series of marathon events throughout North America and Europe to showcase the product’s usefulness to sports enthusiasts, and even military personnel.
“If you look at many of the common injuries or symptoms runners deal with during training or [at] races, you will find that KT Tape [has] applications that can help with many, if not, all of them,” says Holley Deshaw, an Oregon-based licensed massage therapist and member of the brand’s medical advisory board. “To name a few, these include runner’s knee, shin splints, muscle strains, ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, achillies tendinosis, and [overuse-type] injuries.”
For its marathon series, the company expects to have visited 32 states (with California and Florida hosting the most expos) by the end of 2014, having travelled 123,000 miles. According to a spokesperson, KT Tape has used over 1,650 rolls of tape at events — educating the general public about uses.
“In 2014, [KT Tape] will support seven Disney races,” according to a spokesperson. “In 2015, we will support eight Disney races.”
Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape
Kinesiology therapeutic tape is made of lightweight material that’s designed for comfort. It can be used for common injuries, and provide 24-hour relief per application for days at a time. A special adhesive enables the material to stay on a person’s body through sweat, strain, and humidity.
The tape can support athletes and runners as they attempt to reach — and break — personal distance and time records.
“[KT Tape] enables people [to] stop worrying about pain and injuries and get back to doing what they love,” says Jim Jenson, founder of KT Tape, in a May 30 interview with Examiner.com. “There are other alternatives that people can use like braces, or analgesics, but KT Tape is 100 percent natural, lightweight, comfortable to wear, and stays on for multiple days at a time- including in the shower or pool.”
Common Injuries
Performance can be maintained as a runner pushes through a common injury, such as ankle sprain. (See YouTube video)
There are taping methods to apply the tape towards ankle sprains, stretched ligaments, inflamed tendons, or general ankle weakness. “The added support will give you the confidence and support during the rehabilitation phase of an injury as well as the stability and pain relief during activity,” according to the company’s website.
The U.S. events are attracting a large number of participants. Recently, Chicago had 45,000 runners, and more than 100,000 expo attendees. It’s estimated that the New York City Marathon, which is taking place on Sunday, Nov. 2, has more than 50,000 runners.
There’s also an application for turf toe injuries. The tape’s synthetic fabric can provide therapeutic stability and support while maintaining a healthy range of motion. According to the company, KT Tape can reduce the amount of time necessary to return to normal activity levels.
Running Applications
“With KT Tape applications, you are creating space between the dermal and muscular layers, [which] creates an environment of increased blood flow and lymphatic flow to the area being treated,” says DeShaw. “Based on the directional pull and application, a runner can also help in decreasing hypertonicity or tightness of a muscle or imbalance between muscle groups.”
Holley DeShaw has worked at two Olympic training centers as a certified kinesiotape practitioner (CKTP). She’s an active member of the American Massage Association (AMTA).
DeShaw adds: “[With KT Tape], anyone can follow the step-by-step directions and create a taping applicable to almost any symptoms or injury they may be dealing with.”
Contact author: Marv Dumon