HIP FLEXOR

First, is an updated version of our hip flexor video. KT Tape helps to relax and support the muscles that make up the hip flexor group so that the healing process can begin. Using KT Tape will help to increase circulation as well as send positive signals to the muscles affected. Additional treatment entails resting, icing, light stretching, and eventually balance and strength training.

ANKLE STABILITY

This video is an update for our ankle sprain application. This application can be used for a variety of ankle issues including ankle sprains, stretched ligaments, inflamed tendons, or general ankle weakness. The added support will give you the confidence and support during the rehabilitation phase of an injury as well as the stability and pain relief during activity.

TURF TOE

This application is a brand new one for turf toe. KT Tape helps to treat turf toe by providing therapeutic stability and support while maintaining a healthy range of motion. It may take up to 4 weeks for the condition to completely subside, but with KT Tape and the following guidelines, you will certainly reduce the amount of time necessary to return to normal activity levels. If symptoms do not subside at all within 12 hours, consider an X-ray to check for fractures.

We have many more new applications to come so check back tomorrow for more. For a full list of new applications see check here. Leave a comment and let us know what you think? Thx!

The second-ever St. George Ironman kicked off last week, and KT Tape was a major player for many of the Ironman athletes there!  Dr. Jacob Luce of Luce Chiropractic and Dr. Tom Fletcher were two of the sports medicine doctors that treated athletes leading up to the race.

The winners of the 2011 St. George Ironman winner battled fiercely through high temperatures and a difficult course.  The winner for the men came down to the last mile of the race- with Mathias Hecht (8:32:03) followed closely by Maik Twelsiek who finished less than two minutes behind (8:33:46).  Hecht’s finishing time set a new course record by over eight minutes.

For the women, Heather Wurtele won her second St. George Ironman (she also won in 2010) with a margin of more than 35 minutes over second place Jackie Arendt (10:06:36).  Despite the heat Wurtele set a new course record with a time of 9:30:33.

Dr. Luce and Dr. Fletcher were onsite the week leading up to race to treat athletes preparing to compete.  This year the field had 1500 athletes, and the most popular triathlete injuries taped were:

1. Knee/IT band syndrome

2. Ankle

3. Hamstring

4. Low back

5. Shoulder

Click on the links above to view taping instructions for each of these applications.  To view more pictures of athletes taped at the St. George Ironman, visit the KT Tape Facebook page.

To view race results for the 2011 St. George Ironman, click here.

Friday is here again- what will you be doing this weekend?  We want to know if it includes KT Tape.  Here is a sampling of weekend plans from our KT Tape fans.  Tell us what you’re doing!

“I’m KT Taping my knees tonight and hitting an 8-mile in the morning.” –Mike 

“I’m KT Taping my heels and running the Tokyo Marathon… wish you guys were here promoting your fantastic product!” –Satoshi 

“Soccer (futbol) tournament in Riverside, CA… this weekend for my 13 year old girl…” –Jose 

“I am KT Taping my knee and hitting 7 miels tomorrow, and 13 miles on Sunday!” –Matthew 

“Tapering for Little Rock” –Daniel 

“I will be recovering from my vacation where, ironically, I did a whole bunch of KT TAPING… loved it!” –Joe 

“Performing massages and taping runners at the Disney princess marathon… they really wished you guys were there! LOL” –Desmond 

“Taping up the foot and shin.  Hyannis half marathon Sunday.  8 weeks to Boston.” –Emmett

“Tapin’ my athletes at the Western Athletic Conference swim and dive championships in San Antonio!” –Steve

 “Just taped up my knee and ankle for the Walk for Life tomorrow morning!” -Amanda

Tell us about your weekend plans, and don’t forget to check out KT Tape’s events and instructions pages before you go!

We had a blast last month at the Walt Disney World Marathon Expo.   Over 60,000 fans visited the expo and we taped non-stop through the whole race weekend!   Here are a few of our favorite taping experiences- including the most unusual and most popular injuries we witnessed…

Favorite Quote from a New Customer: “I have not felt this good in ten years!” –Yoram, after applying KT Tape on his Achilles Tendon for the first time.

 From Pam, Goofy Challenge Finisher:  “I ran the Goofy (39.3 miles within 24 hours) with Plantar Fasciitis and a heel spur… had a WONDERFUL experience and am recovering better than ever because of my KT Tape.  Thank you for the team’s incredible (and hard!) work at the Expo.  You all were wall-to-wall both days.  Grateful.”

 From Andy, a devoted KT Tape user:  “Thanks for running with me and supporting my right ankle throughout the race.  Couldn’t have made it to this point without you!  …I look forward to seeing you all… for sure at next year’s Disney Marathon! (and everytime I look in my gym bag!! LOL ”

 From Mike, a first-time KT Taper:  “I met you this past weekend and you taped up my IT Bands!  I finished my first Marathon and I don’t think I could have done it without your help!”

 From Ron, a frequent KT Taper:  “Thanks for taping my foot both days at Disney. It made a huge difference and I may have not finished the marathon without it. You helped me a lot and a felt like I was getting personalized service which is amazing considering how many people you taped that weekend. You helped a lot of people that weekend. Good job.” From Chelsea, after her first self-application of KT Tape:  “You taped up my dad’s ankles and showed me how to tape my hip yesterday at the Disney running expo.  I just wanted to thank you!  I taped up last night and do not feel any pain in my hip as of yet since the marathon!  My dad also said his ankles and knees feel the best they have after running a long distance!  Thanks for all your help.”

 Most Unusual Injury:  “We met at the DisneyWorld race expo.  I am the girl with the 2 inch sewing needle in her foot.  Just thought I would drop you a note to tell you that the weekend went great.  Got through both the 1/2 and the full marathons without any pain.  Yipee!  Between the KT tape and some acupuncture, it made all the difference between what would have been complete agony and a fun Disney experience.  I will definitely be trying the KT tape again in the future and have already recommended it to some of my running friends.  So, thanks for taping up my toe and foot!  Super grateful!”

 Most Popular Injury Taped at Disney Marathon Expo: 

As many of you guessed, it’s RUNNER’S KNEE!

This image captures it all- with her daughter on one side, her friend on the other, and KT Tape on her ankle, Blair crossed the finish line victorious in her first marathon ever.

Can you see her KT Tape?  Here is a hint- it’s in her favorite color- hot pink!

Blair explains, “I had my foot/ankle taped at the KT Tape booth at the expo. The tape kept my pain at bay for 26.2 miles. This was my first marathon. I love your product- and the fact that the tape is available in hot pink! Thanks!”

Thank you, Blair!  Your determination and success are an inspiration to us all!

One thing is clear.  We think someone needs to get that boy some KT Tape.  If he wants to play in the biggest game of the year, KT Tape is an extremely smart option.  Our cotton elastic tape is the best kinesiology therapeutic tape on the market and offers superb support while retaining full mobility.

Hopefully Pouncey’s trainers get their hands on some KT Tape and get him back in on the field.

Good luck to both teams!

Are you suffering from an ankle injury like Pouncey?  Go to the KT Tape instruction page online and see how to tape for an ankle sprain.  Get back in the game with KT Tape.

1. Walk like a penguin:  keep your feet apart and slightly turned out to increase your center of gravity.
2. Avoid carrying heavy bags or packages.  This unfamiliar weight distribution can throw off your center of gravity.
3. Take short steps or shuffle.
4. Don’t run or take long strides.
5. In cold weather assume all wet looking surfaces are slippery.
6. Keep your hands free and out of your pockets.  This will help with your balance.
7. Use designated paths and walkways and avoid taking shortcuts through uncleared areas.
8. Don’t wear shoes with smooth soles or heels; stick with something that has traction.
9. Bend your knees slightly and walk flat-footed.
10. Should you fall, try to relax as much as possible.
11. Try to avoid landing on your knees, writs or spine.
12. Use KT Tape as a preventative tool for support and mobility.  You’ll find the ease of movement helpful as you make your way over icy hill and dale.

Hopefully these tips will prevent a hazardous fall and keep your fanny off the sidewalk.  For for kinesiology therapeutic taping instructions for fall related injuries, click here.

Active.com, Movescount.com and RunnersWorld.comhave marathon training programs that could work for you, and Competitor.com offers several great training tips.  Click  here to see Active.com’s program, click here to see the Movescount programs, here for RunnersWorld.com, and here for training tips from Competitor.com.  Each are a little different so it’s up to you to see which one would be the best for your needs.

You can also choose to join a local running club that trains specifically for a marathon event.  There are many clubs that meet and train for the sole purpose of getting ready for a marathon.   A lot of marathon sites have training programs you can download as well.

You can also consult your physical therapist, sports med doctor, athletic director or coach for advice in training for a marathon.  Use all the available resources you have to properly get ready for the event in order to perform in top shape and injury free.

Training for a marathon is no smooth road and KT Tape is here to help make it as painless as possible.  Taping running injuries like plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and ankle sprains are our specialty. Our online kinesiology therapeutic taping instructions make it easy for anyone to tape up and get back to training.

Feel your best as you train and race your marathon with KT Tape.

Here is an article we found from the Huffington Post on the health risks with shoveling snow:

Before you strap up your boots and grab your snow shovel, you might want to think twice. An average of 11,500 people in the U.S. are sent to the emergency room each year for injuries related to shoveling snow — injuries caused by slips and falls, acute muscle pain and cardiac problems — according to a recent study from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

While people may complain of a sore back (a common snow-shoveling injury), what doctors worry most about are the heart problems that result from the arduous chore. The study found that a mere two minutes of shoveling snow can spike your heart rate to unsafe levels.

Why such an extreme spike? Blame the cold weather. Cold air can cause blood vessels to constrict in the body, resulting in skyrocketing blood pressure, said Barry Franklin, Ph.D., Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Laboratories at Beaumont Hospital, on ABC News.

Cold weather and an activity that creates “excessive demands on the heart” make for a dangerous mix, he said. “The heart is working very hard, yet we’re not getting enough blood flow back to the heart.”

So is there a safe way to shovel snow? Snow-blowers considerably reduce the demands on the heart, said Franklin.

Common injuries related with shoveling snow that KT Tape can help with: back pain, wrist pain, sprained ankle.  For video taping instructions visit the KT Tape instructions page here.

1. Look both ways.  They teach this to you in preschool, so it seems like it should be second nature– but it is always important.  While running in town, be aware of traffic and always look for vehicles when crossing the street.
2. Check your blind spot.  When making a turn check over your shoulder in the direction you’re turning to make sure you’re clear of any bicycles or other runners.
3. Keep your music down.  While your favorite song may help keep you pumped as you run, don’t have the music so loud you can’t hear what’s happening around you.  This is especially important when running in the city.  It’s a good idea to run with just one music ear-bud in…and leave the other one free of music so you can be more alert to approaching traffic.
4. Give a friendly shout out.  When passing someone from behind along a narrow trail or sidewalk give a friendly “on your left” so they know you are coming.
5. Stay in your lane.  Try to stay to the right when running.  Be considerate and don’t take up the entire trail or sidewalk by running in the middle of it.  This makes it easier and safer for bicycles and other runners to pass.

Avoid awkward and potentially injury-causing running collisions with these simple tips.  Accidents do happen, though, and if you should find yourself with a rolled ankle or strained calf, look to KT Tape for your pain relief.  Our flexible cotton athletic tape moves with you so you can get back out on the road running.

For taping instructions click here.

From Dave Orsborne: I remember the days when the athletic trainer would tape my ankles so tight I thought my feet would fall off from lack of circulation. Then came the fright of tearing it off. I tell people cyclists shave their legs to avoid pain when removing tape. I damn near cry when I pull a band aid off my elbow.

Along came KT Tape. It is flat, thin, and flexible. I’m sure you’ve seen it on TV being worn by a variety of athletes.  It is made of reinforced cotton which is embedded in such a way to allow elasticity and length-wise stretch. The strips are split down the middle for various applications. This equates to stability without restricting movement (or your feet falling off).

As any trainer will tell you, there is a rhyme and reason why tape is applied in a specific manner and location. KT Tape is no different and that is where you must begin learning how to use it. Their website, www.kttape.com, has numerous videos for different applications. There is also the possibility to consult with a KT Tape specialist.

Since I’m an old guy who gets fat in winter, I seem to have many aches and pains. I’ve had multiple surgeries on both knees and arthritis has set in. I knew I was going to start my test there. I used KT Tape on my knees during a couple hours on the bike and at a different time playing racquetball. I had to use 2 KT strips on my knees. When you pull the backing off, the tape was tissue like. Application was easy by pulling the backing off while pressing the tape onto your skin. I also used the tape on my ankle and neck which required more than 2 strips. I continued the test over a few weeks. Simply put, it works!

The amount of relief I experienced varied depending upon where I used it and what problem I had to begin with. My knee pain never goes away but my ankle and neck pain did. It was easy to feel the difference when I did and didn’t use the tape especially in my knees where the pain was most severe. During my activity, I didn’t hurt as much. Afterwards, my joints weren’t as stiff and I felt better more quickly. I had less inflammation.  I wondered if maybe the tape was laced with some prescription pain killer!

When I started running low on my supply, I left the tape on. Come to find out, I felt better the longer it was on. KT says this is normal. It stayed on throughout my showers but did start to peel back at the ends. I was told a tip to make the tape stick better is cleaning your skin with rubbing alcohol before application. I also learned the tape’s formula allows for breathability and works well in all seasons. Leaving it on didn’t cause itching or skin irritation.

KT’s website does a much better job than I can explaining the basis how their tape works. I can tell you it helped me in various applications. I ached less when I used it and recovered quicker. I repeated the using/not using experiment for over a month. To this day, my choice is to use it. The unfortunate irony is I still cringe when I rip it off!

Thanks to Dave and RoadCylcling.com for their great review, we’re glad you love our product as much as we do!

For application instructions click here.

For application adhesion tips click here.

Click here for a KT Tape retailer near you.

I use KT tape on my ankle and it does everything I need it to do!! I also love that I can get it in my favorite color- NEON GREEN! I’m buying another roll to send to my husband for his runner’s knee, I can’t wait for him to try it! –Krystal Smith Johnson

I tape my knee for ITBS, and let me tell you… I went from not able to run at all to pain free long runs!! This stuff is AWESOME! –Steph Kitzman

Had a motocross get off last weekend, messed up both of my shoulders pretty good, had heard of KT tape but never used it till now, your tape ROCKS!!, it has help the pain and gave good support, thanks! –Chris Bowers

So after golfing sense i was 8 and marching on the drumline sense I was a freshman in high school (im now a freshman in college) I have royal screwed up both of my knees! My surgeon would not let me play college golf unless i wore these huge knee braces that were itchy, hot, and sweety and I hated them. Then my PT told me about KT tape and I tried it. I was a little scared at first because i am allergic to tape but i tried a little part of it on my skin and thankfully it was just fine. KT Tape saved my college golf career and a lot of hot itchy skin. sadley i do have to have surgey but that is due to genetics, KT tape saved me a lot of pain thank you KT Tape! –Katlyn J. Anderberg

So I am soo not a runner but I tore my foot and injured my neck in high school (color gurad) and I now work in an er. After many years of running around the er and failed attempts of pt I was really fed up. One of our OCC health girls said to try kt tape. (thank you stacy). This has really saved my life. I also use it for my wrist. I really look like I am going to war going into work every morning but my family thanks kt tape in the end because I am not crying at the end of the 12 hour shift. Thanks KT tape you really saved my feet, neck and wrist from more surgery!! –Karri Anderberg

KT Tape has saved me….So Thank you!!!!! –Carly Brent

Love this KT Tape. First morning in a long time I havent woken up to a stiff, sore, painful SI joint in the lower back. Good purchase, Josh. Good purchase. –Josh Blake

Thanks for all the love!  KT Tape fans are truly the best!

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