What is the tape on the Olympic athletes?

Kinesio tape has been around for decades, but during the London 2012 Olympics, it was prominent in all types of colors and patterns on all types of athletes. It is designed to support and stabilize the joints and muscles without affecting circulation and range of motion. It is also used to treat pain.

What is tape on Olympic divers body for?

The tape you may have seen divers – and other athletes – wearing at the Olympics is not regular tape. It is a type of tape known as Kinesio, which is flexible and helps athletes deal with pain. The tape helps fluid move through the body more easily, which reduces swelling and alleviates both muscle and joint pain.

What are the black bandages on Olympic athletes?

Kinesiology tape, or kinesio tape for short, is a flexible, cloth tape, which athletic trainers apply on achy muscles to relieve pain or to encourage muscles to work more efficiently.

Does KT Tape have medicine in it?

Kinesiology is an anatomical science that focuses on the treatment of connective tissue, joints, muscles, and tendons – the science of muscular and skeletal movement. The holistic technology of kinesiology tape was developed to balance bodily health, endurance, and energy, without the use of medications or surgery.

Is Kinesio tape allowed for Olympics?

The KT Tape that athletes are putting on their faces is normally used as an elastic sports tape to provide support for muscles, ligaments and tendons to allow for full range of motion. The tape is sponsored and used by several athletes in the Beijing Winter Olympics as well as the summer Olympics season.

Is KT tape a gimmick?

Recommended. The study concluded there was little quality evidence to support the use of Kinesio tape over other types of elastic taping to manage or prevent sports injuries. Some experts have suggested there may be a placebo effect in using the tape, with athletes believing it will be helpful.

Can KT Tape Be Harmful?

Using tape over a wound could lead to infection or skin damage. Deep vein thrombosis. Increasing fluid flow could cause a blood clot to dislodge, which might be fatal.

Is kinesiology tape scientifically proven?

Why do athletes wear black tape?

The tape was invented by Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. The U.K. web site for Kinesio tape claims it can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, relax muscles, enhance performance, and help with rehabilitation as well as supporting muscles during a sporting event.