Dynamic Tape

The new way athletes are achieving optimal performance!

What is the strange looking coloured tape many professional athletes are sporting on their knees, shoulders, legs etc. these days? Over the past few years this tape has become more and more prevalent but what is it and what does it do?

Elastic therapeutic tape was first invented by Dr Kenso Kaze a Japanese chiropractor in the 1970's to treat various athletic injuries. However it wasn't really until the 2008 Beijing Olympics 50,000 rolls were donated and the popularity of this tape soared. There are now various brands and varieties of elastic therapeutic tape. Recently Matt Look and I attended a dynamic tape workshop. Dynamic tape is another elastic therapeutic tape but with some differences to the traditional Kinesio tape. 

So what is it?
Dynamic tape is a highly elastic tape, designed by a musculoskeletal physiotherapist. Unlike traditional rigid tape it allows for full range of motion. Its elastic properties allow for it to contribute to the energy in the kinetic chain when applied in specific ways. It can help to assist or resist, facilitate or inhibit and offload or deload soft tissues. In many cases it can act as a second muscle using elasticity to mimic the action of an injured muscle.
So for example if you had a strained hamstring muscle, the tape could be applied to help the hamstring work. The elastic properties of the tape would help flex the knee like the hamstring muscle normally does. 
Dynamic tape can be used for a variety of injuries however sometimes traditional or other taping techniques are more effective. If you are interested in dynamic tape talk to one of our physiotherapist about how it may benefit you. 

Luke Wheeler

Physiotherapist