Those who regularly watch sports often see this scene: athletes with colorful tape applied to their shoulders, elbows, knees, and other joints.

What is the purpose of these "colored tapes"? Can ordinary people like us also try applying these "foreign-style plasters"?

This magical "plaster" isn't actually a plaster and doesn't contain any medicinal ingredients. It's called Kinesio Tape, a stretchable, elastic bandage used on the field to protect athletes, reduce injuries, and enhance performance.

Kinesio Tape, also known as "muscle tape," is a non-invasive rehabilitation treatment technique invented by Dr. Kase Shoji in Japan in 1979. It was introduced to rehabilitation hospitals in 1982, initially primarily for sports injuries. Introduced in China in the mid-1990s, Kinesio Tape's tape material and taping techniques have been continuously refined over the years, and it has gained widespread adoption in sports medicine circles across Europe, the United States, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Now, in addition to being used extensively by athletes at major international sporting events, it's also widely used by rehabilitation and sports medicine departments in major hospitals for clinical patients.

This magical tape boasts unique properties, such as high elasticity, strong adhesion, excellent breathability, hypoallergenicity, and water resistance. It's most commonly available in five colors: beige (or skin tone), blue, red (or pink), black, and white. In addition to these common colors, there are also a variety of unique colors, patterns, and designs to perfectly complement your personality and mood.

Opening shopping websites, you're bombarded with advertisements for tape. Is it possible for ordinary people to buy and apply it themselves?

It's not recommended for those without specialized knowledge to try taping on their own, as the technique is quite complex! Different taping methods and different stretch lengths produce completely different effects. In some complex cases, a combination of multiple taping methods may be used to maximize the effectiveness. For example:

Natural tension (paperless tension): 10-15% promotes lymphatic flow and blood circulation;

Light tension: 15-25% prevents muscle fatigue and improves interstitial space;

Moderate tension: 25-35% helps restore muscle function;

Heavy tension: 50-75% improves muscle function, fascia, and joint alignment;

Extreme tension: 75-100% improves joint and ligament alignment.