How to Get Kinesiology Tape to Stick - The 6 P's of Kinesiology Taping

K Tape Beach Volleyball

One of the great things about kinesiology tape is that it can be worn for several days through all kinds of wet, muddy or sandy conditions - provided it is applied properly in the first place. When it isn't applied properly, however, even the greatest-looking applications can fall off much sooner than expected, sometimes in a matter of minutes or hours. When you're in a hurry to get your tape on so you can get on with your workout, it helps to keep in mind the 6 P's of kinesiology taping - Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Premature Peeling. Let's break these tips down into 3 phases:

Phase 1: Skin Preparation

1. Skin Must be Completely Dry Before Applying Tape If you just had a shower, don't apply your tape the instant you hang up your towel - wait until all of the surface moisture is gone. If it was a really hot shower, you might need to cool down a bit first. Ditto if you just finished working out. Wait until you have completely stopped sweating - even if you towel off, if you're still producing even a little bit of sweat, your tape will not stick.

RockSauce Liniment and Skin Prep

2. It Also Needs to be Clean And now to the cleanliness issue ... in all likelihood what you think of as clean and what your k-tape adhesive thinks of as clean are 2 different things. It doesn't matter if it has been 8 hours since you used your favorite body lotion, body spray or sunscreen - even a little bit of oil residue can be the kiss of death for k-tape adhesive. Ditto for perspiration and even natural body oils that build up over time. Take a minute to clean the entire application area right before you apply the tape. You can use an astringent, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol or our favorite, RockSauce. RockSauce is an awesome topical liniment that also happens to be a great skin prep. Rub it in, wait a few seconds, then wipe it off with a paper towel. In addition to having the perfect skin surface for your tape, your injury will love the icy hot tingle that it produces.

Phase 2: Tape Preparation and Application

StrengthTape Precut Strips - Royal Blue

1. Use Good Quality Tape Always start with a good quality tape. Saving a couple of dollars per roll doesn't pay off it you get only half the application time per application. For athletes training and competing in extreme conditions, our favorites are StrengthTape and RockTape H2O, which both have extra-strong adhesives. For those wearing the tape under less rigorous conditions, any of the quality brands we carry on our website should work fine. 2. Round the Corners If you're cutting strips from a roll of tape, take a couple seconds to round the corners. Rounded corners are a lot less likely to catch on things or begin to curl or roll up after time. The quickest way to do this is to fold your strip in half and cut two corners at once. 3. Don't Touch the Adhesive This might seem easier said than done, but there are a couple of tricks that make it easy to keep your fingers off the sticky side of the tape. In fact, we just published a post that describes these tricks in excruciating detail. You can read it here.

How to Apply K Tape

4. Go Easy on the Stretch K-tape is so nice and stretchy, it is tempting to give it a good stretch during application, thinking that it will provide better support, For most conditions, however, the best results come when the muscles are stretched and the tape is not stretched. So, overstretching the tape may actually make it less effective in addition to making it more likely to come off. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that 2 inches at each end of the strip are applied with zero stretch.

5. All Strips Must End on Skin Kinesiology tape is designed to stick to skin, not to other pieces of kinesiology tape. It is OK to cross pieces over each other, but all strips should end on skin.

How to Apply Kinesiology Tape

6. Activate the Adhesive The acrylic adhesive on k-tape is heat-activated and friction is a great way to produce just the right amount of heat. After applying your tape, rub it briskly from the center towards the ends for a few seconds to get that adhesive warmed up. If you rub from the ends toward the center, you run the risk of catching an end and lifting it from the skin. (If this happens, cut the loose piece as close to the skin as possible with scissors and carry on.)

Phase 3: Wearing the Tape

1. Avoid Contact at the Ends Even if you follow all of the advice above and get a perfect-application in place, if the ends end up rubbed by pads, equipment or human contact, they will likely lift. If you know that this is likely, you can apply a pre-taping adhesive spray under the ends of the tape in high risk areas. If you don't have any, even a little bit of hairspray can help. If ends do lift, just snip them close to the skin with scissors to prevent the lifting from continuing down the entire strip. So now you know the 6 P's of Kinesiology Taping and in the process have learned exactly how to get kinesiology tape to stick. Be sure to share this with your friends and fellow tapers so they too can avoid the dreaded "premature peeling" phenomenon and get the most value from every application.

How to Get Kinesiology Tape to Stick - The 6 P's of Kinesiology Taping

There are 147 products.

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SpiderTech Precut Groin Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Groin Spider relieves pain and inflammation in the adductor muscles of the inner thigh. It is thin and flexible, allowing it to provide pain relief and support without limiting range of motion. It can help with:



  • groin strain/adductor strain
  • pulled groin muscles
  • adductor tendinitis
  • weak, imbalanced adductors
  • torn adductors
  • bruises and contusions on the inner thigh
  • adductor enthesopathy



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear-time.

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SpiderTech PreCut Hamstring Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Hamstring Spider relieves pain, inflammation and spasms in the hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh. It has a wide base that is applied just below the gluteal area and extends down the thigh almost to the knee. It can help with:



  • Strained or \'pulled\' hamstrings
  • hamstring tendinitis
  • torn or ruptured hamstrings
  • weak or imbalanced hamstrings
  • hamstring cramps or spasms
  • hamstring pain or stiffness from overuse
  • recovery after hamstring surgery



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Sold Out
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SpiderTech PreCut Upper Back Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Upper Back/Postural Spider relieves pain, inflammation and spasms between the shoulder blades. It can also be used for scapular instability and to reduce "round shouldered" posture. The Upper Back Spider is often combined with the Shoulder Spider for certain types of shoulder injuries.>It can help with:



  • Upper back pain and inflammation
  • Poor posture, rounded shoulders
  • Stiffness, spasms or pain related to overuse or prolonged poor posture
  • Weak upper back muscles
  • Scapular stabilization



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Sold Out
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SpiderTech PreCut Upper Knee Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Upper Knee Spider relieves pain, inflammation and swelling from a wide variety of knee conditions. It provides support for the patella and the thigh muscles that can affect knee function. It can help with:



  • Runner\'s, Jumper\'s or Cyclist\'s Knee
  • Chondromalacia
  • Arthritis or bursitis of the knee
  • Patellar tendinitis
  • Kneecap pain
  • Degenerated knee cartilage
  • Recovery after knee surgery



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Sold Out
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SpiderTech PreCut Shoulder Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Shoulder Spider relieves pain, inflammation and spasms in the shoulder and rotator cuff area. This full coverage application provides support for the upper arm, A/C joint, and muscles of the rotator cuff.  The Shoulder Spider is often combined with the Upper Back/Postural Spider for certain types of shoulder injuries or postural issues. It can help with:



  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Deltoid injuries
  • Arthritis, tendinitis or bursitis of the shoulder
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Adhesive Capsulitis
  • Shoulder enthesopathy
  • Recovery after shoulder surgery



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Product available with different options
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SpiderTech PreCut Neck Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Neck Spider relieves pain, inflammation and spasms in the neck and upper shoulder area. It covers both sides of the neck beginning below the hair line, and extends out along the top of the trapezius muscle. It can help with:



  • Strained neck muscles
  • Neck spasms
  • Stiffness or pain from overuse
  • Arthritis, bursitis or tendinitis in the neck area
  • Torticollis (twisted or tilted neck)
  • Weakness or lack of tone in neck muscles
  • Cervical disc disease
  • Recovery after neck surgery



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Sold Out
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SpiderTech PreCut Wrist Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Wrist Spider relieves pain and inflammation in the joints and muscles of the wrist, hand and forearm. It can relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist sprains and other wrist injuries. It can be applied to the top or the bottom of the writs. It can help with:



  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sprained or strained wrist
  • Tendinitis in the wrist, hand or forearm
  • Arthritis or bursitis
  • Wrist weakness or instability
  • Hypermobility of the wrist
  • Wrist enthesopathy



* Contains 2 single-use applications with 3-5 day wear time.

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SpiderTech PreCut Lower Back Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Lower Back Spider relieves pain, inflammation and spasms in the lower back. It is applied at the base of the lower back, extending up to cover both the erector and oblique muscles on both sides of the spine. It can help with:



  • Lower back strains, pain and inflammation
  • Sciatica
  • Muscle spasms in the lower back or gluteal area
  • Weak or poorly toned lower back muscles
  • Stiff, sore back from overuse
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal enthesopathy



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Product available with different options
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SpiderTech PreCut Calf, Arch, Achilles Tape

$7.99 $8.99

The SpiderTech Ankle Spider is a precut kinesiology tape for the calf, Achilles tendon and sole of the foot. It begins on the back of the leg below the knee and extends over the Achilles tendon, heel and sole of the foot. It can help with:



  • strained or pulled calf muscles
  • cramps/spasms in the calf or foot
  • Achille\'s tendinitis
  • plantar fasciitis, fallen arches, foot pain
  • plantaris tear or rupture
  • Achille\'s tendon enthesopathy
  • posterior shin splints
  • muscle, ligament or tendon injuries to the calf or foot
  • recovery from surgery



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

Availability: Sold Out
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SpiderTech Precut Medium Fan Tape

$7.99 $8.99

SpiderTech\'s Medium Fan Lymphatic Tape is a precut kinesiology tape specially designed to reduce swelling, bruising and pain. It can be applied to many areas of the body, including the arm, neck, chest, calf or ankle. It can help with:



    • swelling or bruising from acute injuries or after surgery

    • chronic joint swelling

    • lymphedema

    • bruises and contusions

    • varicose veins

    • lymphatic congestion



* Contains 1 single-use application with 3-5 day wear time.

5-Pack Kindmax Precut Knee Tape

$34.95

Easy-to-apply kinesiology tape support for knee pain and inflammation. Illustrated step by step instructions in every package. Great for:

  • Runner\'s jumper\'s or cyclist\'s knee
  • Arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis
  • Cartilage or meniscus injuries
  • Ligament or tendon injuries
  • Recovery after back surgery


* Contains 5 packages, each with 1 single-use application with a wear time of 3-5 days.

Availability: Sold Out

5-Pack Kindmax Precut Elbow Tape

$34.95

Easy-to-apply kinesiology tape support for elbow pain. Can be applied to inner, outer or back of elbow. Great for:

  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfer\'s elbow
  • Bursitis or arthritis
  • Tendon or ligament injuries
  • Recovery after elbow surgery


* Contains 5 packages, each with 1 single-use application with a wear time of 3-5 days.

Availability: Sold Out

5-Pack Kindmax Precut Lower Back Tape

$34.95

Easy-to-apply kinesiology tape support for the lower back. Illustrated step by step instructions in every package. Great for:

  • Lower back pain, stiffness or spasms
  • Strained lower back muscles
  • Back fatigue or weakness
  • Arthritis or disc-related pain
  • Recovery after surgery


* Contains 5 packages, each with 1 single-use application with a wear time of 3-5 days.

Availability: Sold Out

5-Pack Kindmax Precut Neck Tape

$34.95

Easy-to-apply kinesiology tape support for pain, spasms or stiffness in the neck, upper back or upper shoulder area. Illustrated step by step instructions in every package. Great for:

  • Neck pain, stiffness or spasms
  • Strained or fatigued neck muscles
  • Cervical disc disease or arthritis
  • Weak or imbalanced neck muscles
  • Recovery after surgery


* Contains 5 packages, each with 1 single-use application with a wear time of 3-5 days.

Availability: Sold Out

5-Pack Kindmax Precut Wrist Tape

$34.95

Easy-to-apply kinesiology tape support for wrist pain. Can be applied to top or bottom of wrist. Great for:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sprained or strained wrist
  • Arthritis in wrist or hand
  • Tendinitis in wrist flexor or extensor muscles
  • Recovery after wrist surgery

* Contains 5 packages, each with 1 single-use application with a wear time of 3-5 days.

Availability: Sold Out

KT Tape Edema Strips - 83 Strip Jumbo Rolls

$61.99

Edema strips are designed to decrease swelling and bruising by increasing lymphatic drainage. They can be used to relieve edema from:



    • acute injuries such as sprains, strains and contusions

    • post-surgical swelling and bruising

    • residual swelling from chronic injuries, arthritis, bursitis, etc.

    • lymphedema



Unlike compression wraps or garments that are restrictive and uncomfortable to wear, KT Tape Edema Strips are thin, stretchy and allow full range of movement. Instead of compressing tissue to squeeze out fluids, kinesiology tape gently lifts the skin, enhancing drainage through the lymphatic system. Made from KT Tape cotton with a light adhesive, applications can be worn for several days, providing therapeutic benefits the entire time they are worn.

KT Tape Edema Strips are 2" wide by 18" long - the longest edema strips available. Each strip has a 2" anchor (the end with the KT Tape logo) and five 16" tails.

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