Kinesiology sports tape, in short, is a tape that is applied to the muscles, but it is different from traditional sports tape.

Muscle tape was first developed in Japan in the 1970s by Dr. Kase, a chiropractor. At that time, he did not want to use rigid medical tape, so he created a new type of tape that mimics human skin elasticity.

Some time ago, on the track, more and more runners were wearing various kinds of colorful "cloth strips." In fact, this is a kind of intramuscular effect subsidy to improve muscle pain and circulation, referred to as a "muscle patch."

Recently, the mainstream American running magazine "Runner's World" invited a group of sports doctors and running coaches to explain the use of muscle tape.

When this sports tape was developed, professional athletes, physical therapists, and coaches began to use it. Still, it wasn't until the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Brazilian volleyball player Kerry Walsh won the Olympic gold medal with a muscle patch that this "KT patch," as it was called by many, really became popular.

So the question arises, how does this elastic sports tape work on the muscles?

"When a muscle patch is applied, it causes muscle compression or decompression in the area in question and changes the brain's pain signals." Dr. Karen Scantlebury, a physical therapist, gives the example of how an athlete's leg may feel weak after undergoing ACL repair surgery on the knee. Still, when muscle fibers come together after the muscle patch is applied, it causes the muscle to gain strength.

According to this principle of action, the muscle patch in the increasingly "fashionable and cool" appearance, first of all, the use of natural tension and grain, the epidermis will be pulled up, increase the gap between the subcutaneous tissue, and thus promote circulation, to achieve the effect of reducing swelling.

Secondly, it can also use the patch's tension to relax the tight muscles, helping the muscles to contract to do work and make the movement easier.
Besides, it can also stabilize the joints and prevent joint abnormalities during exercise.

So which muscle injuries are suitable for the use of muscle patches?

1. shin pain syndrome is suitable for use. When the muscles in front of the shin bone are overloaded, resulting in painful inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bones, the runner can apply a muscle patch from below the outside of the knee to below the base of the big toe and then laterally along with the painful point across the entire width of the shin.

2. Knee pain is also applicable. Knee pain is one of the most common problems for runners. Follow Wickham's suggestion of fixing two muscle patches on the quadriceps and then applying them down the left and right sides of the kneecap, forming a teardrop, then placing one muscle patch "across" the other two below the kneecap.

3. is plantar fasciitis when the connective tissue from the heel to the toes is overloaded, the runner's heel will appear in pain. Wickham recommends using a muscle patch on the foot's bottom toward the heel and another one from the arch upward to cross with the first muscle patch.

4. Muscle patches can also be used for Achilles tendon pain. Most Achilles tendon pain is caused by overexertion if it doesn't cause a tear, so runners can use muscle patches to put one tape from the middle of the calf to the bottom of the foot, then one across the back of the heel and ankle.

5. Finally, there is general muscle pain. If a runner feels sore all over but needs more muscle support, then use two muscle patches or cut one muscle patch into a Y shape and wrap it around the sore area.

How can I use muscle patches to improve my running ability?

In addition to using muscle patches to relieve physical pain, the judicious use of muscle patches can really enhance a runner's performance to some extent in the absence of injury.

The first is to stick on the anterior thigh muscle group to support the quadriceps.

Step 1: Bend the knee and first measure the patch's length needed from the lower border of the patella bulge to 2/3 of the thigh.
Step 2:Place the length of the patch on the lower border of the patella.
Slightly tighten the patch (feel the patch being stretched).
Follow the anterior thigh muscles (slightly depressed on the lateral thigh) from the bottom to the top.
Step 3: Finally, leave a length of patch fixed on the thigh, left and right sides are, and finally will show a Y-shaped.

The second is to stick on the posterior thigh muscle group to promote the posterior thigh's mobility.

Step 1: Bend the knee and measure the patch's required length from the upper edge of the knee to just below the hip.
Step 2:
First, fix a grid of patches on the heel.
Start from the heel upwards along the sides of the calf belly.
Finally, fix them on the knee socket.

Of course, some principles of muscle patch use should be noted.

1. Clean the skin surface with alcohol before use, and if there is too much leg hair, it is recommended to scrape it off first to avoid affecting the stickiness of the patch; if there is a wound, avoid putting the patch directly on the affected area.
2. you can still take a shower with the patch on; you can use a towel to press dry after the shower.
Finally, the starting and ending ends of the fixed patch, both without tension, should be stroked back and forth after the patch is applied to facilitate the melting of the adhesive backing and evenly applied to the skin.

According to this theoretical efficacy, muscle patches seem to be beneficial, but interestingly, in the sports medicine community, there is not much experimental evidence to date to show that muscle patches can reduce swelling and pain.

Runner's World cites a scientific analysis that suggests it may have a limited role in improving strength and range of motion.

"Muscle patches can work on different areas, and although they seem simple enough, there are a lot of things to be said about their use, especially not stimulating overactive muscles." Dr. Scantlebury stressed, "If used incorrectly, the longer the patch is applied, then the more damage it can cause."

Therefore, it is important to use caution.

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