RockTape - I put that sh*t on everything, and you should too!

I have used RockTape in my clinic for a number of years and had the opportunity to RockTape athletes at events including the Canada East Regionals (when regionals were actually held in Canada), UG Series events such as BeachWOD, and more. I wish I knew how many meters of tape I have used over the years, but it's safe to say I have used my fair share of RockTape.

Kinesiology tape burst into mainstream health and fitness relatively recently compared to other therapeutic options. While the kinesiology taping method was first developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1979, it has only been the last few years that you regularly see the often brightly coloured tape showing up on some of your favourite athletes.

So, why are athletes getting taped before they compete? And what can RockTape do for you?

Pain & Injuries

RockTape may help you deal with injuries by blocking out pain signals, offering a non-medicinal pain management option. I don’t recommend this as your only response to injury; your plan of care should emphasize therapies that address the underlying injury, but RockTape may help reduce your pain throughout your plan of care.

RockTape gently stretches receptors in your skin which send information through your nervous system which inhibits pain signals. Think of the last time you stubbed your toe or hit your funny bone. Rubbing the injured area helps you feel better by blocking the pain signal. RockTape utilizes the same principle to manage pain.

Protection

Inevitably, when I am treating at a CrossFit event someone will rip their hands and ask me to tape them before the next event. What’s that old saying about closing the barn door after the horse has run away?

Next time, try RockTape on your hands before you rip to provide some protection. RockTape creates a barrier between skin and bar, which is far less bulk than gloves or other grip protection.

Posture & Performance

My personal favourite use for RockTape is to provide cues that help optimize your posture or movement patterns.

Do you have rounded shoulders as a result of sitting at a desk all day? A simple postural “X” RockTape application will provide feedback encouraging you to improve your posture.

Maybe these same rounded shoulders are making it difficult to lift overhead effectively. Maybe you press out your snatches or can’t maintain a lockout through an overhead squat. An upper limb spiral may provide the feedback you need to finally lock in these movements.

Improving your posture, or the efficiency of your movement patterns, will increase your power and reduce your risk of injury. RockTape provides feedback which, when used in combination with appropriate corrective exercises, will help optimize your posture and movement.

Contact Dr. Dwayne to learn more ways RockTape can help you: