Tape used at Olympics a hit with athletes
Athletes use therapy tape that's said to provide pain relief and support for muscles and joints
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Singapore paddler Feng Tianwei and other athletes at the London Olympic Games use the kinesiology tape, which
has been around for about 30 years. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN -
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Singapore paddler Feng Tianwei and other athletes at the London Olympic Games use the kinesiology tape, which
has been around for about 30 years. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
If you have been watching the London Olympic Games, you must have noticed the strange lines of neon blue, pink and black running down the toned muscles of the world's best athletes.
American decathlete Trey Hardee wore it on his calves; German beach volleyball player Katrin Holtwick had it fanning across her abdomen; Chinese diver He Zi, on her lower back. And Singapore table tennis star Feng Tianwei, on her right arm.
London has made the sports therapy tape a talking point, with people asking: What's that?
Background story
THERAPEUTIC TAPE
Those who promote the kinesiology tape say it helps relieve swelling by gently lifting the skin from the muscles, allowing greater circulation of body fluids.
The tape is also used for pain relief and supporting muscles and joints and improving the body's range of motion.
There are various brands, and the tape comes as strips or pre-cut for different parts of the body. It costs around $30 for a 5m roll.
The Kinesio Tex brand was the first on the market. More information is available at www.progress.com.sg/kinesio
Two other brands available here are KT Tape and SpiderTech. More information is available at www.mysportsstuff.com.sg and www. kt-tape.com
Desmond Lim
