Dispelling Common Myths About Athletic Taping

Being athletic can provide you with both mental and physical health benefits, but there is always a high risk of injuries. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help reduce the chances of suffering these injuries, and to this end, athletic tape can be an excellent preventative step for reducing your susceptibility to these injuries. Using athletic tape is a topic of healthcare that is often poorly understood, but knowing the truth behind the following two myths will help you get the most benefit when you buy athletic tape. 

Myth: Taping Is Only For Existing Injuries

It is not uncommon for athletes to be constantly suffering from minor injuries. When you have an injured joint, it is not uncommon to tape it because this will help keep it stable, which will allow it to heal and avoid reinjury. However, you do not have to be injured to enjoy the benefits of taping. 

Taping is a viable option for any joint that you have, whether or not it is injured or weak. Once you suffer a joint injury, you will be more susceptible to them in the future, and avoiding these initial injuries should be a major goal for any athlete. To this end, taping can be an excellent option because it will keep the joint stable without impeding your range of movement or performance. 

Myth: Bracing Is Always Superior To Taping

While taping is a common option to help keep athletes safe from injuries, the use of braces is also another common option. However, it should be noted that bracing and taping serve different purposes. For example, bracing provides far more support than taping, and as a result, it is most often used on injuries that are either very recent or severe. 

In contrast, taping is generally used more for preventative measures or on injuries that have almost completely healed. Taping is preferred for these situations because it allows for a greater range of movements, which can help strengthen the joint and prepare it for unsupported athletic activities during the final stages of recovery. 

Taking care of your joints while you are exercising should be a concerned for anyone that participates in sports. Joint injuries have the potential to impact you for the rest of your life, but you can drastically help reduce the likelihood of these injuries by taping your joints before any competition or practice. While this may seem excessive, it can provide the support your joints need to keep them safe.