World Class Athletes Wearing Kinesiology Tape

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates on stage at the German team victory ceremony (AP Photo/ Alex Grimm,Pool) Although the World Cup is over, we all know how exhilarating the tournament was this year.  Aside from the amazing and memorable games, did you noticed how many players were sporting kinesiology tape? Athletes in every variety of sport are now promoting, using and being sponsored by kinesiology tape brands. Famous names include tennis players Serena Williams, Li Na, and Novak Djokovic; beach volleyball’s Kerri Walsh and Phil Dalhausser, and soccer star’s Gareth Bale and Jermaine Jones. Cyclists, rowers, weightlifters, volleyball players and even roller derby athletes are touting the benefits of kinesiology tape for its ability to accelerate healing, increase circulation and relieve pain and swelling,– all of which help  improve endurance and overall athletic performance. 

Sponsorhips by kinesiology tape brands are also on the rise. Rocktape and PerformTex are sponsors of CrossFit, and PerformTex also is the first tape to sponsor a Nascar’s team, the Turner Motor Sports Team. Strengthtape is the official sponsor of the IRONMAN® events. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, RockTape sponsored the US Speedskating Team. Jessica Kendall, US Speedskating Athletic Trainer, said of the partnership “Athletic trainers, professional athletes and amateurs know how great RockTape is, and our athletes know the value of the product. RockTape is an asset, and great support for our recovery and training.” And while not an official sponsor, golf pro, Michelle Wie just recently began endorsing SpiderTech, “This (SpiderTech) definitely helped me get through the week!”. It’s really no surprise that athletes and kinesiology tape go hand in hand. The properties of kinesiology tape, which mimic the body’s own skin, make it light, thin and flexible. Kinesiology tape is applied directly over or around the borders of muscles and joints, which allow it to provide support to an injured area while still permitting full range of motion. Its unrestrictive properties allow many athletes to still train during injuries. It can withstand the harsh conditions of sweat, dirt, and water and can be worn up to 3-5 days, providing benefits the entire time it’s worn. Have you spotted kinesiology tape on your favorite athlete? Tell us on Facebook!