Kinesiology Tape is an elastic athletic tape used by many professional athletes. Unlike regular athletic tape, its elastic structure allows a degree of movement and doesn’t cut off blood flow. This is said to speed the healing of muscles. Naturally, based on its success, several companies have entered the market, each enhancing the concept in slight ways.
Kinesio
First gained notoriety during the Beijing Olympics but was actually first developed by Japanese Chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. Since they were first to market, other offerings are referred to as Kinesiology Tape, despite being made by other manufacturers. It is offered in rolls and is very much an institutional rather than consumer product.
KT Tape
Offered by Utah-based Lumos, Inc, KT Tape. They have taken the technology mainstream and offered it in big box stores. Intended for use at the consumer level, they offer instructions with each roll and also offer how-to videos on their website. They claim a 14% elasticity which replicates that of human skin, allowing the KT Tape to move with you yet still provide support.
SpiderTech
SpiderTech takes the concept to the next level and provides pre-cut strips for different applications. They offer several different shapes and can provide training on how to best use them. SpiderTech is hypo-allergenic with no latex and can be applied for up to 5 days which may make it desirable for military applications.
Has anybody used any of this?
I’ve used it many times…and was impressed enough to become a certified KT Practitioner (yes there is such a thing). It was introduced to me by a Japanese colleague years ago and shortly thereafter became fairly mainstream in North America. During numerous martial arts, motorcycle accident and workout related injuries it helped me recover quickly and continue training supported while injured.