Have you been to a race recently and noticed a lot of people with colorfully taped legs, knees, ankles and shoulders? The ubiquitous tape is KT Tape. KT Tape is a lightweight adhesive tape that can be applied common injuries such as lower back pain, knee pain, shin splints and so many more. The original tape is cotton and provides “stable support without restricting motion.” New KT Tape PRO is made of an ultra durable synthetic fabric which increases the strength and durability of the tape.
KT Tape is applied along muscles, ligaments, and tendons (soft tissue) to provide a lightweight support that helps you remain active. They say, “KT Tape creates neuromuscular feedback (called proprioception) that inhibits (relaxes) or facilitates stronger firing of muscles and tendons. This feedback creates support elements without the bulk and restriction commonly associated with wraps and heavy bracing. KT Tape gives you confidence to perform your best.“
KT Tape’s unique “matrix mesh” allows for moisture release which is critical for comfort and “wearability.” It breathes and can be worn for 3 – 7 days. You can take a shower or swim with it and it does not cause irritation or rashes.
The folks at KT Tape sent me some KT Tape Pro and some patches to try and to share. I spread the word about their special breast cancer awareness pink zebra stripe design. And, I checked out their promos in Chicago and NYC for the marathon. The poster on the right was from NYC and it made it super clear on how the tape is used for common injuries. They also have super helpful instructions and videos. You can even apply tape and show photos on Facebook to see if you have done it right! Pretty awesome.
My “challenge” about testing the KT Tape was that I had no injuries or strains to test it on. Trust me, I am not complaining! I didn’t want to tape myself up just for the sake of it. Luckily, I asked my friend, and track club teammate, Dr. Zack McCormick who specializes in Pain Management and Sports Medicine if he would help me with the review. We decided to bring the Stealth Beige PRO tape and the PRO X Patches to our Illinois Club Team X-C Championship Race last weekend. It was a beautiful day for running and our mini-clinic.
Zack held a mini-injury clinic and explained to us how KT Tape works. In the spirit of full disclosure, he said he normally writes PT prescriptions and lets them handle the tape, but he effectively demoed it for us. We also did not have a scissor which would have been helpful, too. That said, Zack taped Amanda’s ankle pre-race.
After the race, I mentioned some minor hip issues that I was having after doing speed work too soon after NYC Marathon. After some pokes and prods, Zack told me that he thought it was a combo the of glute med and greater trochantor muscle. I thought the tape would go horizontal, but two vertical strips did the trick. After two days, I reapplied it myself pretty easily. I could have left it longer, but I wanted to try it myself! This was an easy spot to tape myself and I really like the support.
Last up, Ryan had some shoulder pain from Cross Fit so Zack taped him up – good as new! We did not have any takers for the Pro-X patches. They can be used for applications like shin splints, medial and lateral knee pain, AC joint sprain, SI joint pain, pain on top of the foot, heel pain, bunions and all muscle strains (arms, legs, and back).
It was so cool to have Zack’s help, but the online instructions make it pretty easy to try yourself or with a friend. Of course, if you have pain, see a physician or physical therapist. Once you have a plan with them, you can use KT Tape to keep you moving and keep your muscles activating.
KT Tape also sent me a roll of their Limited Edition Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Zebra Tape ($24.99 retail cost). I am a fan of the Stealth Beige myself, so I am going to send this roll to a lucky reader. Want to win? Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Giveaway ends 11/27/2015. A winner will be selected and notified on 11/28. Winner must be a US resident (or have a US postal intermediary), 18 years of age or older and the offer is void where prohibited.
In the mean time, you can follow KT Tape on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Have you tried KT Tape? Tell me about it in the comments!
Please note: I was provided KT Tape at no cost in exchange for an honest review. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. This post is in no way intended to provide medical advice. Please see your doctor or PT before using this product.