KT Tape Update
A couple weeks ago, I posted a review of my use of kinesio tape and my disappointment in KT Tape. As a reminder, my complaint about KT Tape was that it just wouldn’t stay on my skin.
That same afternoon, a representative from KT Tape contacted me, expressing surprise about my complaint (especially when compared to Kinesio Gold) and offering to help me figure out why I was having problems. The KT Tape customer service person pointed me to these helpful tips for applying the tape and also offered to send me some tape so I could continue experimenting. I took him up on the offer and a few days later received a box with a bunch of tape.
In case you don’t want to follow the link to the tips, here’s my summary of the tips:
- Clean the area with rubbing alcohol.
- Stretch/extend the area where the tape will be applied (i.e. bend the knee for IT band application, flex the foot for achilles application, bend the elbow, etc.).
- Do not stretch the last 1.5-2 inches on either end; tension on the ends will cause the end to come up and then the whole thing will fall off quickly.
- Before un-stretching the skin, give it a good rub (especially around the edges) to generate some heat and activate the adhesive.
- Apply the tape as long before exercising as possible (within reason, of course; they suggest at least 30 minutes).
I decided I would try it out again on my right achilles and right IT band on Saturday for my 5 hour/30 mile trail run. Friday night, I cleaned pretty much my entire right leg with rubbing alcohol. When I woke up Saturday, I went over my leg with rubbing alcohol again. After cleaning the skin I put the tape on, carefully following the tips above. I used the blue tape (the roll I originally bought) on my achilles and the red tape (some of the tape KT Tape sent me) on my IT band. I would be driving an hour to my run, so I knew it would have plenty of time for the adhesive to set before I started sweating.
These are the pictures from right after I applied the tape. You can maybe see there are a couple places where the tape isn’t perfect, but in the past, that’s always been close enough!
A few hours into my run, I took these pictures:
As you can see, the tape is still sticking to my skin. When I wrote my initial review of the tape, I would have counted that as “success.” But it does get better: the red tape on my IT band was still there for my run this morning – that’s four days, surviving six runs, a bunch of showers, a few dips in the pool (though no actual swimming laps) and even a few extended trips to the sauna. After a few days, the tape started to come up in the bottom inside corner and bubble a little along the edges, but for the most part it was still sticking.
The blue tape on my achilles on the other hand didn’t fare so well. By the end of Saturday’s run, it was already coming off. The ends were still doing ok, but it was pretty much fully released all through the middle.
After this initial test, I’m disappointed with the achilles application, but I am really pleased with how it worked on my IT band. I never had to do so much work or effort to get the Kinesio Gold tape to stick, but I also never had it still on my skin four days after application. And honestly, the “effort” to get the tape on right wasn’t too bad. The only problem I see for “everyday” use is putting the tape on a long time before heading out for a run. I do most of my running in the morning and it’s rare that I have that much extra time to wait before a run.
This leads me to a few questions: Was it just human error all along? Or, is the roll of blue tape I got less sticky than the red one? I’ll continue experimenting – and next time switch it up – and keep you posted.
KT Tape is not the same as the original, popularly known as KINESIO Tex Tape, which a certain beach volley ball athlete used when it got famous. Is that right?
My name is Jim- I’m with the KT Tape support team. Thanks for the great report. Based on what you said I’d give it a 95% chance the only difference between the two applications is the part of the body being taped. We normally advise that people will get 1-2 days on the foot apps- since the foot is a rough place for tape. Sounds like you did well on applying the tape! If we can ever be of further help please let us know. Thx.
Thanks for the review! I usually get Kineso tape from my PT, but I waited too long and the office is closed for the night. I’ll probably try out the KT Tape since the store 4 blocks away has it in stock.
I use Elastikon by Johnson and Johnson for my kinesiotaping type work in my chiropractic office. It’s only disadvantage is that there isn’t a paper backing on it for cutting, so you have to be a bit more careful. That being said, the stuff lasts 5-7days….even on achilles tendons. And I have fabulous results using it all over the body. And it’s way cheaper than kinesiotape or k-tape or other knockoffs. I get it in 1,2,3,4″ rolls depending on where I’m taping. Fo the achilles I use 2″ and split it the way you showed in your picture; I also run it the length of the foot and then taper it and hook it over the middle toe with a little hole cut out. If you do mess up and it sticks to itself, it pulls apart no problem. A trick I use to warm up the adhesive is giving the taping job a thorough rubbing after application.
I do all these things and still have problems with the tape rolling and not sticking to my skin. I am glad to hear I am not the only one who has had problems. Normally I am taping my right ankle and I usually have to replace the tape 2-3 times during the day. (One time replacement I understand as I am a figure skater and therefor putting a lot of stress on my ankle from the boot)
I have had limited success with KT Tape. Green I-Strips seem to stick the best, with blue Y-Strips second, and feel as though the pink I-Strips were a waste of money. The green lasted two days under my knee cap. The blue barely made it through a two mile run. The pink started coming unstuck during the run, and by the time my run is over, the pink was falling off.
Has anyone else noticed a deference in adhesion between different colors?
We have tried the laser blue and it has worked the best for us, black has been okay, and beige wouldn’t even go on and is worthless!
Thanks for the comments everyone. Recently KT Tape came out with a new version (KT Tape Pro) and I reviewed it here: http://j-tris.blogspot.com/2011/12/kt-tape-pro-product-review-and-discount.html. It sticks really well.
Heather – do you clean the area first with alcohol? Also, when you apply the tape, be sure not to use any tension on the ends. Tension on the ends will definitely cause it to come undone. Those two things are the biggest keys for me.
Phil – I’ve had varying success with different colors, but I think it’s more the quality of the individual roll. One time, a blue roll was really awful while a red roll seemed better. I think the blue one must just have sat in the sun too long or the glue wasn’t applied properly. That’s probably what happened with your pink ones.
Thanks for the info. Good to know. Just bought KT since my order for Kinesio was delayed. DARN. I knew when I opened it up it was not the same quality. Put it on before reading your recommendation to use alcohol. Oh well. Replaced order for Kinesio and hope for the best until it arrives. Never had to do all that prep work just to get my tape to stay on. Grrrr….