The KT Difference

The KT Difference

If you’ve watched the Olympics, a marathon or any sports competition, you’ve likely seen it: an elite athlete’s shoulder, knee or other body part sporting KT tape.

Since 2008, our kinesiology tape has been providing effective pain relief and support for the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of active people of all types - from Olympic-level athletes to weekend warriors and anyone else who loves to move.

Kinesiology tape has long been used as recovery product in the sports medicine industry. How did it move out to the masses and become more mainstream?

gravel rider with kinesiology tape on knee

Largely, because of KT™ working with medical experts, professional athletes and everyday active people to bring kinesiology tape beyond the clinic and make it available to consumers across the country.

KT Tape is a premium elastic sports tape that offers lightweight support through its long-lasting adhesive and durable fabric. The pre-cut tape is customizable and comfortable to wear for days at a time, through showers and sweat.

 

BRINGING KINESIOLOGY TAPE BEYOND THE CLINIC

"Before KT's founding, kinesiology tape was a clinical product that required users to go to a clinician and have the tape applied. KT was the brand that brought the benefit of kinesiology tape out of the clinical shadows to the masses with education and instructions for DIY application," explains Jeremy Newns, Director of Product Development & Research at KT Tape.

Before KT made it more visible and accessible, kinesiology tape had been used for decades. Christopher Harper, PT, DPT, OCS, is a doctor of physical therapy and a board-certified orthopedic specialist. He's also on the KT Medical Advisory Board and shared insights for this article.

The kinesiology taping concept has been around since the 1970s and attracted more attention in the 1980s. By the 1990s, physical therapists in the United States began embracing the method, which continued gaining traction into the 2000s.

Dr Chris Harper headshot

2008 was a pivotal year, when kinesiology tape took its then-biggest stage: the Summer Olympic Games. Athletes sported kinesiology tape across various competitions.

“Since that time, such products have been more visible in training and events across the sporting world,” said physical therapist Christopher Harper.

 

FOR THE EVERYDAY AND THE ELITE

If anything from little niggles to extreme soreness crops up to hold you back from running in the morning, biking on the weekend, staying centered with yoga or reaching your daily steps goal, KT is for you.

Those aches and pains in your joints or that post-workout muscle soreness are things KT is the perfect tool for. It can be worn during and after workouts to provide flexible support to tendons, joints and muscles, enabling you to fully enjoy your adventures and help with the recovery process, reducing that pain and soreness.

woman running with kinesiology tape for shin splintsCurrently, KT has a base family of four tape products with several of those having line extensions offering added features and benefits. As the leader in kinesiology tape, KT understands the needs of the consumer and that those needs are not served by one or two products.

Each KT Tape type is developed differently to address differences in skin types, activities, performance needs, duration needs, amongst other things that differ per user.  You can find the perfect KT Tape for your needs using these 5 Tips for Choosing the Right KT Tape.
HOW DOES KT TAPE WORK
Thousands of people trust KT Tape to provide pain relief and support, from the everyday active individual to the professional competitor.

Pain, soreness or injury in muscles, tendons or ligaments can be distracting and limiting. KT Tape is designed to provide drug-free pain relief and flexible support.

KT Tape increases stability, decreases discomfort and lifts the skin to temporarily increase local blood flow and reduce muscle soreness post-workout. 
HOW TO APPLY KT TAPE
The best way to get started applying KT Tape is to watch our 'Getting Ready To Tape' video.  It covers all the basics, from understanding the proper amount of stretch and properly placing anchors, to getting tape on skin with enough time pre-workout that it stays in place as designed.
One expert tip to remember:  KT Tape is designed to be worn through showers, sweat and weather. The best way to make your tape last is to prepare the skin properly first. Trim hair (only when necessary) and then clean and dry the skin (alcohol wipes work best) to achieve optimal adhesion.
LIBRARY OF TAPING APPLICATION GUIDES
You can access our free library of taping application guides right here at KTTape.com, our Youtube channel, or by body part below.

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