Sports Tapes

Sport tapes can be divided into 8 main categories:

• Elastic Adhesive Bandages
• Tearable Elastic Adhesive Bandages-Tear Tape
• Zinc Oxide Tape
• Cohesive bandages
• Kinesiology Tape
• Tubular Bandages
• Fixation Tape
• Underwrap

What is an elastic adhesive bandage EAB?

Elastic adhesive bandages, known as EAB by sports physio is effectively a stretchy cotton bandage with an adhesive backing. These tapes are applied to joints and muscles to provide support to treat and prevent sorts injuries.

What is Tear Light Tape?

Tearable elastic adhesive bandages are lighter versions of EAB which can be torn by hand. They are widely used in rugby with foam locklift blocks to create the line out lifting wrap and for general compression and support for weak muscles.

What is zinc oxide tape?

Rigid strapping tape is the professional choice for stabilising joints. It is made from cotton, rayon or viscose with a strong adhesive backing and the standard style of tape for athletic taping.

What are cohesive bandages and tapes?

Cohesive bandages are stretchy tapes which stick to themselves but not the skin. They are adhesive free and can be reused. They provide quick an easy compression.

What is Kinesiology Tape?

Kinesio tape has become widely used for a range of sports injuries, and is characterised by taping techniques which apply graduated stretch to the tape resulting in a gentle lifting of the skin to create space between the fascia and the skin.

What are tubular bandages?

Tubigrip style tubular bandages are tubes of elastic cotton material which provides compression for soft tissue injuries.

What is fixation tape?

Inititially designed to secure wound dressings and to prevent bandages unwinding, being hypoallergenic, it tends to be used in sport to protect the skin from more aggressive adhesive tapes such as zinc oxide. It is widely used in patello-femoral taping of the knee.

What is under wrap?

M-Wrap or Pro-Wrap is a very foam bandage which is wrapped around the skin before performing athletic taping techniques.