K TAPE has rapidly become one of the most used products in sports medicine. Gracing the bodies of athletes and weekend warriors all over the world as they strive to compete injury-free. 

You’ve probably worn K Tape at some point. If not, your physio is probably prepping it for your next visit.

SPORTTAPE began as a Kinesiology Taping company, and we’ve seen it all. From crazy applications to miraculous recoveries. But there’s more to K Tape than meets the eye, and a few things that might surprise you…

1. K TAPE WAS INVENTED IN 1970

Most of you won’t have heard of K Tape before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, maybe even 2012. However K Tape was being used a long time before the USA Volleyball Team got their hands on it! 

In fact, Kinesiology Tape was actually used in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Over time, manufacturing methods have improved and physiological understanding has developed. Many of the original claims made by the inventor Kenzo Kase have now been debunked. You can read our BLOG on K Taping myths HERE.

2. K TAPE MATERIALS CAN VARY GREATLY

As the popularity of K Tape spreads, so does the number of K Tape brands and manufacturers. However, be WARNED. Not all tapes are created equal. Material quality and composition can vary greatly tape-to-tape. 

K tapes are still commonly made from cotton with various blends of nylon, lycra and other materials to add stretch. Some contain latex, and fabric density can vary greatly. 

Check out our IMPARTIAL GUIDE to what makes a good K Tape HERE.

3. WE STILL DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW K TAPE WORKS.

You would think that after 50 years of using K Tape in clinical practice that we would have a perfect understanding of how K Tape works. This isn’t quite the case though.

Research is being done all of the time, and there’s some great studies recently that have shed some light on old theories. We base our theories on the latest research, alongside evidence from physios on the front line.
You can get our thoughts on HOW K TAPE WORKS HERE.