FAQ

COHESIVE BANDAGE is generally used for “quick fixes” such as applying a compression bandage to limit swelling within a joint, to secure socks and shin guards when playing football, protecting goalkeeper’s fingers & wrists from hyperextension.

Yes – COHESIVE BANDAGE is the only re-useable tape in the SPORTTAPE range. It contains no glue so won’t stick to your skin or hair. It only sticks to itself so can technically be washed and used again if removed carefully.

However, because the bandage is self-adhesive it can easily roll and fold into various shapes that can very time consuming to unravel.

The outside of COHESIVE BANDAGE is coated with a water-resistant layer which allows it to repel water whilst maintaining it’s breathability. It can be worn safely in wet conditions without losing it’s adherence, but should not be submerged in water for long periods of time as only the outside of the roll is water resistant.

Although they are both elastic compression bandages, COHESIVE and EAB serve 2 very different purposes and have very different properties.

COHESIVE

– Contains NO GLUE. It is self-adherent.
– Has a higher stretch level, and much lower tensile strength than EAB.
– Is most commonly used as a compression bandage in non-sporting settings.

COHESIVE BANDAGE contains no glue and is self-adherent. If you carefully remove your cohesive application it can be washed and re-used a handful of times.

Due to the nature of the tape if applied incorrectly you can inhibit blood flow. Therefore we would always recommend that you check circualtion post application and during activity.

COHESIVE BANDAGE is used to bridge the gap between the top of the ‘grip’ sock and the bottom of your cut-off team sock, creating the illusion of a single sock. This also helps to keep the bottom of the shin pad in place.

It’s often used in conjunction with SOCK TAPE for the perfect fit.

WARNING – Under the FA Guidelines Rule 4. Your tape must match the colour of your socks. Click here to read the official information.

The FA rules state that “tape or any material applied or worn externally must be the same colour as that part of the sock it is applied to or covers.

Our fabric is constructed from high strength synthetic fibres, polyurethane elastic yarn and a cohesive rubber latex compound. This allows it to conform to the body without bunching or rolling down.

Our K TAPE can last up to 5 days. However, the greatest effects of kinesiology tape are felt within the first 24 hours of wear.

We would recommend removing kinesiology tape after 48hrs, since the positive effects are greatly diminished and to reduce the possibility of skin irritation.

We will be straight with you, kinesiology tape isn’t a quick fix for injuries or a miracle cure! We always recommend that consult a medical practitioner before using K TAPE. Then once applied correctly, it can help facilitate your full rehab programme.

K TAPE can be used to reduce pain from injured muscles as you rehab, reduce inflammation, provide dynamic support for ligaments and tendons, improve proprioception and provide postural correction.

DISCOVER MORE ON THE BLOG

Unfortunately kinesiology tape is designed for single use only.

Shaving before applying is not necessary, however it unquestionably helps with adhesion and we would certainly recommend it if you are wearing K TAPE for more intensive exercise.

If you prefer, we recommend that you trim the hair down rather than a clean shave.

If you don’t apply to the correct area then the tape will have little or no affect, so you won’t do any harm to yourself.

However, the majority of ‘reactions’ to kinesiology tape are actually skin irritations caused by an over-stretching of the tape, or excessive friction on the skin due to a poor application. So, be careful not to put too much stretch on the tape and ALWAYS apply a test strip if using our K TAPE for the first time.

We would always recommend you seek the advice of a medical professional before applying K TAPE in order to get a full injury diagnosis. Once checked out, you can easily self-apply.

There are areas of the body which may require some help or an extra pair of hands, such as postural correction, lower back and shoulder.

We provide clear instructions for most K Taping applications, so anyone can do it. Check out our GUIDES section for more info.

Our K TAPE glues don’t contain any colophony or rosin, which are the normal irritants for anyone with an Elastoplast allergy.

However, we would recommend that anyone with an Elastoplast allergy trials a small test patch before using kinesiology tape as the skin sensitivity may disagree with any kind of adhesive against it.

The difference is far greater than the names would suggest. Both are elasticated adhesive bandages that adhere to the skin and stretch 170% but that’s where the similarity ends.

EAB

• Is more robust. It uses a thicker cotton and has a far higher tensile strength, meaning it can only be cut with a scissors
• It has a feathered edge (for added comfort) and a central line to help reduce overlapping

TEAR EAB

• As the name would suggest it is hand tearable
• It is lighter weight and has a “crinkled” texture which helps aid multiple layers
• Is more versatile and the most popular tape for rugby

Discover how to use the tapes on our SPORTTAPE Youtube Channel.

Our EAB and TEAR EAB come in 3 sizes; 2.5CM / 5CM / 7.5CM

2.5CM – Use to protect ears, fingers and smaller joints.
5CM – Ideal for ankle, wrist and knee taping. Also used for thumb taping and the hook-grip in weightlifting.
7.5CM – Knees and shoulder taping. Securing lifting blocks for rugby.

Neither EAB or TEARABLE EAB is waterproof. However they are both breathable and water resistant, meaning that it will survive a heavy down pour during a match but they can not be used for water sports.

The No 1 choice for thumb taping is TEAR EAB 5CM. Just wrap it quickly around your thumbs and tear. Discover how to tape your thumbs here.

Shaving before applying is not necessary. The level of adhesion combined with adequate pressure will hold the EAB in place.

Due to the compressive nature of the tape, if applied incorrectly you can inhibit blood flow. Therefore we would always recommend that you check circulation post application and during activity.

Our EAB glues don’t contain any colophony or rosin, which are the normal irritants for anyone with an Elastoplast allergy.

However, we would recommend that anyone with an Elastoplast allergy trials a small test patch before using EAB TAPE as the skin sensitivity may disagree with any kind of adhesive against it.

If you have a known allergy to ZINC OXIDE, then you should opt for a different tape as EAB uses a ZINC OXIDE glue.

The most common tape used to secure lifting blocks in rugby is TEAR EAB. The jumpers use this tape to hold the foam block in place and to provide the lifter with a grippy area to hold on their leg. Discover more on our blog post.

Using EAB around the head and ears helps to prevent ‘Cauliflower Ears’; a deformity to the ears caused by repeated blunt force. Forwards are particularly susceptible to this because of their head position when scrummaging.

Using EAB around the ears also helps to reduce the chances of sustaining a cut or tear on the ear by securing the ear to the side of the head.

It can be removed really easily by simply peeling away the tape. The adhesive on EAB is not as a strong as ZINC OXIDE TAPE or K TAPE, so although it sticks to the skin, it is much easier to remove.

FIXATION TAPE is most commonly used for 2 purposes:

1. Securing bandages, dressings and pads to the skin.
2. Providing a base layer to improve the adhesion of ZINC OXIDE TAPE applications.

LEARN MORE ON OUR DETAILED BLOG

You should use FIXATION TAPE anytime you are applying ZINC OXIDE TAPE to an area where there is a lot of joint movement. FIXATION TAPE acts as a protective barrier between your skin and the aggressive glue used on strapping tapes. It’s very porous, so allows your skin to breathe and your applications to be less affected by sweat.

FIXATION TAPE is designed to last the duration of a strapping application – whether that’s an 80-minute game, or a few hours hiking. It will most likely be removed along with any ZINC OXIDE TAPE that is stuck over the top.

Although both tapes are designed protect the skin prior to taping, which one you choose will depend on the area that you’re taping, whether any glue is allowed to touch the skin and whether you have time to cut strips of FIXATION TAPE.

UNDERWRAP is primarily used to protect your skin from the potential irritation of wearing adhesive tapes (i.e. Zinc Oxide & EAB). Acting as a thin barrier, UNDERWRAP is applied before overlaying with strapping tape.

It’s also highly effective against tape chafing and alternatively, can be used to secure cold packs and bandages in place during use. It’s made from a lightweight foam that is porous, water-repellent and really easy to use.

FIXATION TAPE is rigid and can’t be ripped by hand, so you’ll need a pair of scissors to cut your strips. Because it’s adhesive there’s no need to wrap an entire joint and you can use smaller strips as anchors to help Zinc Oxide tape stay in place more effectively.

FIXATION TAPE is not waterproof. However it is highly porous, meaning that it will survive a heavy down pour during a match but they can not be used for water sports or any time where the tape will be submerged in water.

The worst that can happen if that you create an uncomfortable application. You are unlikely to causes and circulatory issues when only applying FIXATION TAPE.