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    Kinesio Tape for Athletes: How Helpful It Really Is?

    By on Last modified: September 11, 2018

    If you have happened to catch as little as a glimpse of the last Olympic games, you have surely managed to notice at least one athlete wearing brightly coloured stripes. Although this is a new trend, it’s not actually a new invention. These stripes are called Kinesio tape and it was invented in the1970s by the Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase. According to the claims made in favour of this invention, the Kinesio tape has important medical benefits as it can help athletes of all kinds reduce inflammation, enhance their performance, support the muscles and the most relevant part – it can help with muscle rehabilitation. That being said, let’s answer some of the most common questions on the topic.fitness equipment

    How Can This Tape Work Its Magic During a Sporting Event?

    The “magic” behind this small but potent piece of fitness equipment is, in fact, simpler than it seems at a first glance. It’s all about providing neurosensory feedback so that the user doesn’t feel as much pain or discomfort. This means that the tape can help practice muscle endurance and contraction.

    How Exactly Can It Help with Rehabilitation?

    Due to its elastic recoil, this tape can help you achieve fluid movement. It achieves this by lifting the skin (in a way) thus increasing the space underneath where lymphatic drainage occurs. The lymph system is in charge of moving fluids in and out of the area and it’s located just under the skin. This means that putting tape on the skin can be beneficial for clearing the swollen area. Whenever there’s more lymphatic drainage, there’s more tissue healing. This is why the stripes are a piece of fitness equipment that can be worn in the shower and while sleeping during the rehabilitation process.

    How Can I Know If I Need It?

    One word – pain. It is best to apply Kinesio tape immediately after you feel pain since pain is a signal from the affected part to the brain that it needs to begin a healing process for the purpose of reducing the intensity of the inflammation process taking place. Also, if you plan on applying ice as well, make sure you secure the tape first since if you apply them in reverse order, the tape might not be able to stick to the skin as it should. In such case, you’ll need to heat the glue but that defeats the whole purpose of the cold therapy.