What is pink athletic tape?
pink athletic tape was developed in 1979 by Japanese chiropractor and acupuncturist Dr. Kenzo Kase.
Since standard bandaging and lashing methods tend to hinder rather than aid the healing process, Kase wanted to improve circulation within the injured muscle by making tape that mimics the effects of the manual therapy he uses every day.
After Japanese athletes at the 1988 Seoul Olympics provided it with a global platform, pink athletic tape entered Europe in 1996 and was introduced to the United States a year earlier.
When applied in the right way, pink athletic tape provides a “lift” effect by pulling on the upper layers of the skin.
The space then created between the layers of tissue beneath the skin and the muscle itself allows the pressure on the muscle to be released.
Not only does this make blood circulation easier and reduce inflammation, but it also reduces pressure on pain receptors.
Since the elasticity of the pink athletic tape acts as a second skin, the support it provides to the muscles helps them contract.
pink athletic tape also helps remove lactic acid, which is a byproduct of exercise when energy is produced faster than the body can deliver oxygen.
Because lactic acid buildup on your muscles makes you more prone to fatigue, cramping, and DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), using kinesiology tape after a particularly strenuous workout can help avoid this.
For painful joints, applying kinematic tape can help stabilize them as well as treat surrounding muscles, while tape can also be used to reduce stress on problematic ligaments and tendons.
Remember that pain is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong. Ergonomic tape will ease the pain, but if there’s an underlying problem, it’s better to check it out than to pile on the tape and hope for the best.
So, while it shouldn’t be used as a substitute for seeing a physical therapist or for proper rehabilitation and recovery after an injury, kinesiology tape is a good option if you’re trying to care for a sprain or minor injury to reduce discomfort and swelling.
The color of the tape also doesn’t determine its function or purpose – so pick your favorite design and tape it!
shape of sports straps
Before we get started, let’s walk through some typical K Tape shapes you might apply or see in the future.
I-shaped sports straps
A standard piece of pink athletic tape that has not been cut or altered. Ergonomic tapes are usually manufactured as an I-belt. Especially effective when applied to injured muscles.
Y shaped sports straps
A strip of I tape, cut through the middle to create two “tails” but the ends remain attached.
W-shaped sports straps
A strip of I pink athletic tape, which is cut into a series of tails, which are also all still attached at one end.
The “W” label implies four tails, but it can actually be as many as you want, which means it’s often referred to as a “fan.”
X-shaped sports straps
A strip of I pink athletic tape with the center cut from both ends, but not all the way.
This keeps the four tails connected together from the bottom in the middle of the tape, rather than at the ends like the Y and W strips.
Particularly suitable for large surface area body areas made up of different muscles, such as the back.
Donut shaped sports straps
This is achieved by taking a strip of I tape, folding it in half and cutting from the center of the fold rather than the end.
When unfolded, there will be a large “hole” in the middle, but the ends are still connected – like a doughnut.
This technique is often seen on the knee, when the kneecap occupies the hole in the donut and the side of the donut wraps tape around it.
