In a high pressure performance environment, pre-competition sports taping can be useful to protect a recovering injury.
Applying tape is a skilful job since there are many ways to tape a single joint, and different types of tape, and one has to be mindful about how much tension to apply. Too much tension might make you compensate and over used other joints, and too little could be ineffective. Three common types of tape are: elastic, rigid and K tape. One of the thoughts on how tape works, is that it changes where the forces are being directed, for example during landing impact, thereby off loading the tendons and ligaments or other soft tissue. Another thought is that it changes your sense of alignment and positioning (proprioception) so that you have a better chance of correctly positioning your joints whilst in motion, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury.
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