AC JOINT

First, is an updated version of our ac joint pain video. AC Joint injuries can be very painful and take a long time to heal. For most separations or injuries to the AC Joint, this KT Tape application will drastically reduce pain, provide needed support, and speed the healing process.

SHIN SPLINTS

This video is an update for our anterior shin splints 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.

WRIST

This application is a brand new one for wrist pain. KT Tape is appropriate for Grade I and II sprains, and Grade III sprains after seeking medical attention. KT Tape provides stability through proprioceptive feedback and mechanical support. Additionally, KT Tape is very comfortable and allows for slight healthy range of motion in order to speed the healing process. Other treatments include rest, ice, NSAIDs, and in very severe cases surgery. It is very important to get an accurate diagnosis is moderate to severe cases in order to avoid complications in the future.

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!

Welcome to a brand NEW KT Tape Application- not available anywhere else except here on the blog and on our Facebook Fan Page!

Wrist pain is often caused by carpal tunnel, ulinar entrapment at some point along the wrist, and many more.

This application provides stability to the wrist and relaxes the muscles along its flexors.

It is important to follow the body position of the wrist as outlined in this video demonstration for application (first putting the wrist in flexion, then later stretching the wrist in the opposite direction as demonstrated above). 

Let us know what you think of this NEW application by leaving your comments here on the blog or by posting on our Facebook page!

Tennis is a sports played throughout the year on various different surfaces.  With Wimbeldon being a part of the top sporting events taking place we take a look at some of the common injuries sustained by playing tennis and how kinesiology tape can support the injury and enhance recovery.

You have noticed during some sporting events that participants and professionals donning bright, multicoloured strips on their bodies; particularly around the shoulders, knees, elbows, thighs and wrists.

This is kinesiology tape, a sports injury phenomenon which was introduced into the UK in the early 70s.  Kinesiology tape uses the manipulation of skin contours to support muscle and tendons, they allow for blood circulation and lymphatic drainage allowing for reduction in swelling and pain relief.  Furthermore, using kinesiology to common sporting injuries also supports mobility which enhances recovery.

In this special blog we will look at some of the common injuries sustained whilst playing tennis. At this point I would like to stress that Kinesiology and the use of therapy tape is only a facet of your rehabilitation, we strongly recommend that you seek professional advice from your doctor or physiotherapist.

Tennis Elbow

Although labeled Tennis Elbow, this common injury is not just caused by playing tennis;  when you are suffering from Tennis Elbow you have actually strained the extensor tendons in the forearm. The tendons become inflamed where they join the bony part on the outside of your elbow.  Incidently, if this pain is on the inside they call it Golfer’s Elbow as the grip and twist is usually reversed.

Usually this strain has been caused by activities that involve gripping and twisting of the forearm.  If you are suffering from Tennis Elbow and want to use therapy tape to support your recovery click on the Tennis Elbow link here to see how therapy tape is applied.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injury and inflammation is one the most common causes of shoulder pain. This is caused by irritation and inflammation of the tendons of the rotator cuff. Rotator cuff injuries tend to have a sudden onset, so you feel pain almost immediately.

As in most cases with injuries of this type it is caused by overuse of the shoulder, particularly in tennis the shoulder is put through intense usage with serving and also reciprocating shots of the ball in reply to the opponent.

For shoulder injuries and details on how to strap up using Kinesiology Tape for injuries such as rotator cuff please click here.

Wrist Tendonitis

This is the irritation and inflammation of the tendons around the wrist.

The most common and consistent complaint of patients diagnosed with wrist tendonitis is pain over the area of the inflammation; swelling surrounding soft tissues is also common.

Check out the video on using Kinesiology tape for wrist injuries by clicking here.

Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles Tendon is the large tendon at the back of the ankle; it connects the large calf muscle to the heel bone and provides the power for walking a running.

Achilles Tendon injuries are very painful and prevent you from walking, injuries can be sustained from inflammation of the tendon due to overuse.  This is very common in sports such as tennis and football and can take the sufferer several weeks or months to remedy.

Kinesiology tape is designed to support this type of common injury, to see how you can use therapy tape to support the injury click here.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band)

IT Band pain, like Achilles Tendonitis, can be very painful, and knee symptoms can prevent walking.  It is often found in sports enthusiasts and also in women during pregnancy.

The band pain is caused by superficial thickening of tissue on the outside of the thigh extending from the outside of the pelvis to over the hips and knees.  As the band stabilizes, movement such as walking and running with continuous rubbing of the band can cause inflammation.

Symptoms range from a stinging sensation just above the knee joint to swelling and thickening of the tissue.  Unlike rotator cuff injuries the pain is not onset or sudden and may not actually be felt during exercise or movement, however this can intensify later…

To read the entire article, visit Medzooma.com.

Before you head out to the field, you might want to review the basic rules and some of the fun facts behind why you should play from USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the U.S. (see below).

Also don’t forget to tape preventatively for common Ultimate injuries: Knees, shoulders, and wrists can be the first to get sore!

What is Ultimate?

Combining the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football, a game of Ultimate is played by two seven-player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football. The object of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opponent’s end zone. A player must stop running while in possession of the disc, but may pivot and pass to any of the other receivers on the field. 

Ultimate is a transition game in which players move quickly from offense to defense on turnovers that occur with a dropped pass, an interception, a pass out of bounds, or when a player is caught holding the disc for more than ten seconds.

Ultimate is governed by Spirit of the Game™, a tradition of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the players rather than referees. Ultimate is played in more than 42 countries by hundreds of thousands of men and women, girls and boys.

Why Play Ultimate?

ULTIMATE IS FUN
There is a reason why hundreds of new people begin playing Ultimate each year.  Ultimate is genuinely fun and exciting. The unique flying options of the disc mean that no two throws look alike and the options are limitless. 

It’s relatively new in the world of sports (since 1968) and has been gaining rapidly in popularity ever since. Players of all ages and levels enjoy the unique challenges this sport offers. Once you get started you will be hooked on Ultimate. 

ULTIMATE KEEPS YOU ACTIVE AND HELPS YOU STAY HEALTHY
From the beginner to the elite player, Ultimate is a terrific sport that offers challenges at all levels of play. Ultimate combines athletic skills of running, catching and throwing. Additional skills and athleticism beyond that are left up to the player’s imagination. Many athletes of other sports find the transition to Ultimate both easy and rewarding, as the sport requires many of the same techniques as basketball, soccer and even lacrosse. Whether you play-pick up occasionally at the local park or practice three times a week with your team, playing Ultimate will leave you feeling energized and alive.
 ULTIMATE IS A REAL SPORT
Although Ultimate is sometimes stigmatized as a “tree-hugger” sport, in reality Ultimate is a legitimate sport with a national governing body. Ultimate is a real sport, with official rules, leagues, competitions at all age levels. Ultimate demands extraordinary fitness, endurance and skill; an intellect which understands the physics of the disc and strategies of play; as well as an honest and trusting temperament committed to the Spirit of the Game. Ultimate is a great sport to begin as a child or to start getting into as an adult; due to the sport’s relative newness, the Ultimate family welcomes any player that has an interest. 

ULTIMATE IS EASY TO PICK UP
Ultimate is a great sport for school districts or anyone who is interested in trying something new and different with minimal costs. The equipment needed to play are incredibly few and relatively inexpensive. In addition to a low cost, Ultimate combines athletic skills that children learn through out their physical educations and can be easily applied to the sport of Ultimate. Due to the low cost and the easy transition from other sports, Ultimate is a perfect sport to introduce students.  

ULTIMATE BUILDS CHARACTER
Ultimate develops acceptance of responsibility for one’s own behavior. Participation truly builds character, self-reliance, listening and negotiating skills and leadership qualities due to the sport’s official rules of Spirit of the Game. In addition, more and more top colleges have serious Ultimate teams and playing from a young age may give students a competitive edge when applying to schools.

To find out where to play Ultimate near you, visit the Ultimate Events Calendar.  To read the entire article and learn more about Ultimate, visit the USA Ultimate website.

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.

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.

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!

To follow KT Tape on Facebook and share your KT Tape story click here.

It is also perfect for those long treks through the woods for people with bad knees and joints.  Along with pain relief it also helps stimulate blood circulation in affected areas so it’s great for those achy joints when the weather gets nippy.

KT Tape is also available in a newly-released camo color so it will blend in with the rest of your gear; perfect for the active sportsman.

As with any sport, safety is a top priority and KT Tape wants to remind hunters to look out for each other out there and have a safe season.

The camo KT Tape is being sold directly and in bulk packages of four.  For sales and availability email sales@kttape.com

For a complete list of KT Tape application instructions click here.

This past week we have received several inquiries from Professional Bull Riders who are preparing for the Professional Bull Riders World Finals in Las Vegas.  Bull riding didn’t immediately cross our minds when we created KT Tape, but it makes perfect sense.  Bull riding is extremely tough on the body, especially the back and shoulders.  KT Tape can help with back pain whether it’s SI Joint, lower, or middle back pain.  And the with the array of different shoulder applications, there is sure to be one that works for these riders.  We’re also suggesting the Rib Pain and wrist sprain applications for some of the guys.

We’re always excited when KT Tape charts new territory so we’re thrilled KT Tape will be on some of the riders at this event, good luck boys!

The PBR World Finals are taking place in Las Vegas October 20-24.  For event information and tickets visit the PBR website here.

Nicholas has been sharing KT Tape with his fellow skaters  and the response has been awesome.  With common skate injuries like sprained ankles, wrists and jammed fingers, we know KT Tape is right at home within the skateboarding community.  We’re excited KT Tape is helping these athletes stay at the top of their game.  Keep doin’ what you do, guys and gals!

Thanks for sharing the KT Tape love, Nicholas, one strip at a time.  We’re proud to be worn by amazing action sports athletes like yourself.

For more on the Venice Skate Park visit their website.

Photography by Julian Bleecker

“KT Tape has helped me with the nerve damage in my forearm and my hands.  It’s like a helping hand then never stops helping.  Being comfortable is a big thing.  It is hands down the best wrist tape I have ever come across.  Up until now I was using boxers cloth tape and it is just not up to par.  My body loves KT Tape.  I also use it to hold my pads in place and on the inside of my helmet.”

Nicholas belongs to the VSA (Venice Surf and Skateboard Association), which heads up the Venice Skate Park.  The Venice Skate Park is maintained by the skaters without funding form the city and was recently named the cleanest structure in LA County.

Thanks for the awesome testimonial Nicholas! And keep on spreading the KT Tape love!

For more information on the VSA visit their Facebook page here.

Picture by Ray Rae

When you first pick up a bow, notch your arrow and pull back the string, the strength required to do so may surprise you.  Of course with the pulley system technology out there today, you will be able to find your initial comfort zone without throwing out the shoulder.  Regardless, you will experience soreness until the muscles in your arm, shoulder and core become accustomed to the action required to pull back the string.  One solution is KT Tape.

KT Tape is highly effective at providing pain relief, stability & support, & faster recovery for injured or sore muscles and joints-without sacrificing comfort or freedom of movement.  When it comes to archery, you will need relief from sore muscles and without question, need to maintain your freedom in motion.  Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape is your solution.  To find taping techniques applicable to shoulder, back and neck soreness, check out http://www.kttape.com/instructions.