Sports Tapes & Strappings

The complete guide to sports tape: benefits and applications

Sports tapes are a staple in athletic performance and injury management, offering support and rehabilitation benefits for athletes across various sports. From preventing injuries to aiding recovery, taping techniques have been widely adopted in both professional and amateur sports for decades. 

Whatever sport or activity you do, you’ll find the right sports tape for your needs at Healthylife. Discover more about sports tape and its role in managing conditions like ankle sprains and muscle strain.

What are sports tapes?

Sports tape is a type of adhesive tape used by athletes and sportspeople to support joints, enhance stability and aid in rehabilitation and injury recovery. Taping plays an important role in both acute and chronic injury management. Many athletes also use sports tape to help prevent injuries.

Beyond injury prevention and recovery, taping is also used to help manage various medical conditions, including chronic ankle instability.

Sports tapes are easy to apply and come in a range of sizes and lengths.

How do you use sports tapes?

Sports tape is used to support recovery from musculoskeletal injuries and assist athletic performance. Here’s a general guide:

1. Prepare the skin

Clean and dry the area. Use under-wrap for rigid tape if needed to prevent irritation to the skin.

2. Apply the tape with your preferred method:

  • Rigid taping: Apply in structured patterns to stabilise joints or limit movement, often for athletic activities.

  • Kinesiotaping: Stretch and apply directly to the skin along muscle or joint lines to reduce pain and promote mobility.

  • McConnell taping: Place rigid tape to adjust joint alignment, such as repositioning the patella for knee pain.

  • Mulligan taping: Apply after manual therapy to maintain joint positioning and reduce pain.

3. Check and adjust

Ensure the tape is comfortable, supportive and not too tight. Remove if irritation occurs.

4. Post-application

Rigid tape is usually removed after activity, while kinesiotape can stay on for a few days.

It’s always best to consult a healthcare professional for guidance on taping methods suited to your specific needs.

What are the benefits of using a sports tape? 

Sports tape may provide a range of benefits, from pain relief to improved circulation and joint support. 

A benefit of sports taping may be pain reduction and functional improvement, particularly for joint-related conditions. Research suggests that non-elastic taping may be effective in reducing pain and enhancing performance for individuals with knee issues. This makes sport tape a valuable tool for managing chronic joint pain.

Sports tape is also used to reduce swelling and improve lymphatic drainage. Kinesiotaping has been found to help drain excess fluid by gently lifting the skin, facilitating lymphatic flow, and reducing post-operative edema. 

Overall, sports taping is a versatile intervention that aids in pain management, supports rehabilitation, and enhances physical performance, making it an essential tool for athletes and individuals recovering from injuries.

What is the difference between a sports tape and a crepe bandage?

Sports tape is primarily used for joint and muscle support, pain management and injury prevention. It can be elastic (like kinesiotape) or non-elastic (rigid athletic tape). 

Crepe bandages are mainly used for compression and support, particularly for swelling and post-operative recovery. These bandages apply uniform pressure to an injured area, reducing fluid buildup and aiding circulation.

Non-elastic sports tape provides better pain relief and functional support for chronic conditions. This differentiates it from crepe bandages, which are primarily used for compression.

A sport tape product for every application

Discover the full range of sports tape products available at Healthylife to support your recovery, improve performance and prevent injuries. Whether you need rigid tape for stability or kinesiotape for flexibility, Healthylife has you covered. Explore our options today!