Have you noticed the use of tapes on the arms and limbs of athletes on television, and wondered why they use them on the skin? Some of these tapes are called athletic tapes and perform specific functions on those body parts.
Athletic tapes are everyday sports products that athletes have used for a long time to help improve their performance, manage injuries, and treat injured joints. Since they gained enormous popularity, non-athletes have continuously used athletic tapes for health and many other purposes.
If you are having trouble using them or are unsure when to apply them, this article will go into great detail regarding athletic tapes and how they may benefit your joints. From track stars, football celebrities, and those beginning their fitness journey, read to the end to find out why you should consider athletic tapes.
What Are Athletic Tapes?
Similar to sports or therapeutic tapes, athletic tape is a pressure-sensitive, elastic material that provides support. When engaging in particular athletic activities, such as running or boxing, athletic tape is used on the skin to help hold the muscles and bones in place, preserving their stability and position.
Athletic taping is simply applying the athletic tape, which is frequently done to aid in the recovery from injuries caused by overuse of the bones and muscles. It also helps reduce pain, relieving pressure and tension on the taped area. Athletic taping is also used to help athletes work out more effectively and prevent injuries.
When to Consider Athletic Tapes?
Since everyone has different goals for using this tape, their use transcends from person to person. Athletes or non-athletes may use athletic tapes to help them adapt to a new workout routine and prevent injuries. At the same time, another may choose to use athletic tape to assist and repair torn and broken muscles and injuries.
The main objective or purpose of an athletic tape is to assist and limit the movement of an injured joint. This helps offer stability for a while or until recovery begins. Read this if you do not know when to use athletic tapes.
- To support your injured joints: Athletic tapes help stabilize the injured joints, thereby supporting the surrounding muscles and ligaments holding the loose joint. The additional external support to the injured limb helps speed up the healing process and allows the injured athletes to return to training in no time.
- To prevent and reduce further harm to the injured joint: Hampton Adams athletic tapes help reduce further injury or damage to the injured area. Once applied correctly, it provides the needed support that keeps the injured joint in place. This reduces further damage to the surrounding organs and tissues.
- To maintain proper limb movement and reduce force and pressure on the injured area: Since weak and injured joints need support for healing to commence, it can be challenging to get this support naturally without external support. Hence, athletic tapes can support weak joints, thereby reducing the force and pressure that can cause further damage.
- If you suffer from chronic or underlying joint issues: Although sports and fitness persons majorly use athletic tapes, they are also used by individuals with chronic musculoskeletal problems. To help relieve these joint issues, apply the athletic tapes to the limbs, back, and neck for temporary support.
- To reduce musculoskeletal pain: Rather than depending on surgery or painkillers, athletic tape is known to decrease joint pains, and it is estimated that over 100,000 Americans use it to relieve pain and alleviate headaches and migraines.
- To prevent injury when you exercise: Athletic taping is one of the top treatments for reducing injuries in contact and collision sports. This is why most athletes use them regularly to reduce their chances of injury.
How Do Athletic Tapes Help the Joint?
How do athletic tapes aid or encourage healing when their primary function is to restrict or limit the movement of the damaged or sprained joint?
Athletic tapes offer these benefits by simply compressing the soft tissues around the injured joints once correctly applied. This compression helps reduce swelling by dispersing the pooled blood back to the body – the tapes also provide anatomical support to the bones in the injury and serve as a splint.
In cases of dressing injuries, athletic tapes help secure the dressings and bandages properly. It protects the injured joint from further damage and hastens the healing process.
Why Hampton Adams Athletic Tapes?
To enjoy the best support and stability, you must ensure your chosen Athletic tapes are high-quality and made with the best materials. There are hundreds of athletic tape brands, but only a few companies deliver quality. Hampton Adams specializes in creating top-tier sports products. Here are reasons why you should purchase your athletic tape from Hampton Adams:
● 100% Cotton Substrate
Our athletic tapes are 100% natural cotton; the substrate composition provides better comfort and top-notch breathability.
● Medical Grade Material
Hampton Adams athletic tapes are made from high-grade medical materials that are latex-free, zinc oxide infused, and hypoallergenic. Unlike other brands that use substandard materials that wear off in no time, Hampton Adams assures long-lasting use.
● Easy to Use
Our athletic tapes are designed to tear easily by hand without scissors. In addition, it also unwinds easily and adheres firmly to the skin when used. Hence, unwrapping and applying them to your joints may no longer require professional help.
● No Sticky Residue
Our tape is very sticky; it will stick to you until you decide to take it off. Despite this, our tape does not leave any sticky residue or pull off part of your skin when it comes off. Unbelievable, right?
- Lastly, there is a 60-day money-back guarantee on our tape.
How to Apply Athletic Tapes?
The technique below has been used by trusted trainers and health professionals and explains how to wrap your joints properly in a few steps.
- Start by preparing the skin for the tape. Preparing the skin requires removing stray hairs at the targeted joints, treating any injuries or lesions, and cleaning the skin properly.
- The taping can either be done by your trainer, a health professional, or yourself. If it is to be done by another person, ensure they are in a comfortable position. After cleaning the targeted joint, position the body part appropriately.
- Get the athletic tape and ensure the skin is dry. To prevent slippage and promote the tape’s rigidity and effectiveness, make sure you pre-wrap the skin before using the athletic tape. However, this process is often not mandatory as many still achieve a well-wrapped joint without using a pre-wrap.
- The width and length of the tape must be wide enough to strap the body properly. It is best to measure the targeted joint before wrapping it; this helps get accurate measurements.
- As you start wrapping the joint, start slowly by going around the joint and extending the tape above and below to secure the wrapping. Finally, seal the end properly to avoid slippage.
- Ensure the athletic tape is firm, wrinkle-free, and does not impair the limb muscles’ movement or prevent blood circulation. If it does any of such, it’s best to loosen the tape and rewrap it until it becomes snug and breathable.
Are Athletic Tapes the Same as KT Tapes?
Many often confuse Kinesiology tapes for athletic tapes as they perform similar functions; however, these two tapes are different.
Kinesiology sports tape mimic the skin. They are stretchy compared to athletic tapes and perfect for joint alignment. The elastic stretch of the tape helps lift the skin and promotes better blood flow and tissue healing.
Athletic tapes are, however, used for support and stabilization because of their less stretchy nature. It does not mimic the skin but constricts it to a defined position. It prevents the poor movement of the limbs and only allows you to move in certain positions.
When and How Should I Remove My Athletic Tape?
It is advised that you remove your athletic tape wrapping within three days, or you develop a high risk of dermatitis. Removing your athletic tape is very easy as it only requires a tape cutter.
This tape cutter is a pair of scissors designed to remove athletic tapes from the joint without tearing or harming the skin underneath. Ensure the skin is completely free from any sticky residue by rubbing alcohol or lotion over it(You don’t get this with our tape).
Conclusion
Athletic tapes are great for everyone as they help prevent, manage, and treat joint injuries effectively. Make sure to apply athletic tapes to healthy skin and use high-quality athletic tapes from Hampton Adams for effective rigidity and support. Remember that every muscle requires rest; overexerting them, even when taped, can result in further damage.
