Several skiers have been spotted wearing athletic tape over their cheeks and noses to shield their faces from the harsh wind and severe temperatures.
Many of them are wearing KT Tape, or kinesiology tape, an elastic sports tape originally created to support muscles and joints and provide drug-free pain relief.
It's a trend first seen at the Winter Olympics in 2018 in PyeongChang, when Alpine skier Ted Ligety wore a strip of USA-branded tape prominently across his nose and cheeks.
But for the winter athletes, it's more like a shield than a pain reliever. However, the tape was never designed to protect winter athletes from freezing conditions.
“We’ve seen KT Tape used as protection against the wind in winter sports over the years, so although it isn’t a clinically approved usage, we appreciate the ingenuity," Greg Venner, CEO & President of KT Tape, told TODAY.
Still, in light of the harsh weather on the slopes, many athletes are turning to tape to protect the areas of their faces that can’t be shielded with goggles or masks.
As of now, there is no research that proves KT Tape is an effective barrier against cold temperatures. In fact, the company warns that the tape can be difficult to remove.
"KT Tape doesn’t endorse the use of kinesiology tape on the face as it isn’t clinically tested, and the adhesive that works so well to keep tape in place to provide long-lasting muscle and joint support can be a bit more difficult to remove from the delicate skin on the face," Venner said.
"However, we certainly applaud the creativity – we are proud to support Team USA!”
The jury may still be out on the actual, medical benefits of face-taping, but for now, expect to see athletes continuing the trend.
Several skiers have been spotted wearing athletic tape over their cheeks and noses to shield their faces from the harsh wind and severe temperatures. Many of them are wearing KT Tape, or kinesiology tape, an elastic sports tape originally created to support muscles and joints and provide drug-free pain relief.
By helping to increase blood flow in the injured area, athletic tape decreases swelling which alleviates pain. The elasticity of the athletic tape can also serve as support for the affected muscles. It naturally goes back to its original position, which takes some of the workload off of the athlete's muscle.
It is often used to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation and provide support to joints and muscles. The elasticity, or stretchiness, of kinesiology tape allows for movement. This makes it different from the more rigid rehabilitation tape or support adhesives that have no stretch to them.
The elastic material of choice is often kinesiology tape, made by the brand KT Tape, which is designed to provide pain relief and lightweight support to muscles. An athlete typically applies the tape to joints or muscles, and it is rarely used on the face — with good reason.
In short, Kinesio tape is a form of athletic tape which can be stretched past its original length and provide myriad proposed benefits to positively affect performance and pain levels. This is done through the stretch of the tape, which is a combination of cotton and nylon made to mimic the elasticity of our skin.
Nipple chafing can be prevented by running without a shirt or wearing soft fabric shirts and avoiding those with rubberized logos. Furthermore, runners can place a mechanical barrier, such as circular pieces of adhesive tape, bandage or lubricating ointment, over nipples prior to exercise.
In general, the quality of evidence is insufficient in supporting the use of taping as a stand-alone treatment. However, there have been studies that have supported the use of kinesiology tape for pain management.
In contrast, zinc oxide athletic tape has a strong adhesive quality that sticks directly to the skin, ensuring firm immobilization and stability of joints or muscles. Stretchability: Cohesive tape is known for its excellent stretchability, which allows it to conform to body contours and provide an optimal fit.
It works by supporting muscles and joints without restricting movement, improving blood flow and reducing pain and inflammation. The tape is designed to mimic the natural properties of human skin, allowing it to be worn comfortably for extended periods of time.
Why do NFL players have white tape on their arms? Well, this is “turf tape” which is meant to prevent burns and scratches that arise from playing on a turf field. If you've never played on a turf field, landing on turf will inevitably scratch up and burn your skin.
It's a specific type of tape called kinesiology tape, or "turf tape," and it helps players avoid scrapes when they are tackled, drive, or hit the turf for any reason. Typically, it's used to prevent and treat musculoskeletal injuries because the elasticity keeps muscles in their natural position.
Lingerie tape, also known as cleavage tape, fashion tape, dress tape and tit tape, is a double-sided adhesive tape, used to secure the edges of a strapless dress or top to the cleavage or side of the breasts or on shoulders to secure bra straps from slipping, in order to keep the item of clothing in place and to avoid ...
Kinesiology Tape, or K Tape, is used by athletes and physiotherapists to treat sprains, strains and other muscle and joint ailments in a variety of different sports activities.
Equi-Tape® is a specially designed tape that takes into account the unique characteristics of a horse's skin, anatomy, physiological systems, athletic ability, and lifestyle conditions.
Frost Tape is a specially designed thermal tape that protects your skin from severe cold and wind. Simply apply across your nose and upper cheeks. Frost Tape is not just for XC skiers.
Face tape has gathered momentum among those looking for a quick fix to sagging facial skin. However, the results you get from using face lift tape are only temporary and don't offer a permanent solution to tightening skin. Still, if you still want to try it, go ahead — just don't overdo it to avoid any adverse effects.
CureTape Beauty is a revolutionary face and body tape that is designed to help improve the skin's natural processes. It works by placing small strips of kinesiology tape on the face in strategic areas to help improve the muscle tone, lymphatic drainage and elasticity of the skin.
Kinesio tape, however, has polymer elastic strands woven through the cotton, so the tape is flexible and doesn't impede range of motion when it's applied. Despite its flexibility, Kinesio tape is supposed to stabilize muscles and give the athlete awareness of muscle engagement, known as proprioception.
Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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