Comparative Insights into Kinesiology Tape and Wavewear
From Tape to Tech: Evaluating the Performance and Environmental Impact of WaveWear vs. Traditional Kinesiology Tape
Abstract
Since the late 2000s, kinesiology tape has seen a drastic increase in popularity and consumption, especially among athletes. But what exactly is it?
Kinesiology tape is an elastic therapeutic tape made from a thin, stretchy, synthetic fabric. It's designed to mimic the elasticity of human skin and muscles, providing dynamic support without restricting your range of motion.
However, kinesiology tape requires precise application to deliver its full benefits. That's where WaveWear comes in.
This report will dive into the differences between WaveWear and traditional Kinesiology tape, highlighting key differences such as application process, sustainability, and effectiveness.
Application Process
For traditional kinesiology tape, widely used in therapeutic and sporting industries, the application process can be challenging. Thousands of videos explain how to apply the tape properly to each specific body part, yet misapplication is common, leading to less effective results.
There are many guidelines to follow to try and ensure the best results, and the list is extensive. Some main tips include applying the tape to a clean area, free of dirt, oils, or sweat, and shaving longer body hairs for better adhesion (Andrýsková & Lee, 2020).
Key Application Challenges:
The same tape is recommended not to be worn for more than a day to avoid skin irritation, meaning new tape must be applied daily.
According to the National Library of Medicine, "Approximately 2–3 cm of the starting and ending point of the tape needs to be applied to the skin without any stretching" (Andrýsková & Lee, 2020).
These numerous specifications for optimal results often lead to less positive outcomes for users.
Even with helpful videos, many still suggest that taping should be done by professionals. It requires a "certain clinical background," making it less accessible for the everyday user to fully benefit from the product (Castro, 2023).
On the contrary, WaveWear boasts a more straightforward application process, making it significantly more user-friendly and easier to unlock its full benefits. WaveWear incorporates AlignX.
This AlignX technology has been researched and developed for six years. It’s mapped in a waved design to recreate the effects of kinesiology taping (refer to Figure A above).
A primary reason for WaveWear's creation was to offer an easier way to gain kinesiology tape benefits without the complex application. The AlignX technology also performs well with sweat and is CE Medical Class 1 approved, meaning it's non-toxic and safe for your skin.
While the ease of application might subtly differentiate WaveWear's effectiveness when compared directly to traditional kinesiology tape, it offers many more benefits that we will explore further.
Sustainability
One significant aspect that distinguishes kinesiology tape and WaveWear is sustainability. Let's first analyze the sustainability of traditional kinesiology tape, an area still in heavy need of innovation.
Kinesiology tape is typically bought in a roll and cut into specific pieces for use. A single roll may last around a month, with individual applications lasting 3-5 days, though daily switching is often recommended. With 15-20 applications per roll, continuous repurchasing is necessary.
This frequent need to switch tapes every few days generates a substantial amount of waste that quickly adds up over time.
Despite brands marketing the tape as breathable or skin-friendly, kinesiology tape is neither compostable nor recyclable, as it is not biodegradable. This creates a continuous plastic-based waste stream, especially in clinical or athletic settings.
While more environmentally friendly tapes have been developed as sustainability becomes a pressing issue, they often compromise key beneficial features for eco-friendliness.
WaveWear, however, has found a compelling solution to the sustainability issue through its washable and reusable products.
WaveWear combines its AlignX technology, which acts as the kinesiology tape, with compression wear material clothing. This innovative approach gives their product a remarkably long-lasting lifespan.
WaveWear offers consumers a sustainable option that also benefits them financially. The ongoing purchase of new kinesiology tape rolls can become increasingly expensive.
With WaveWear, the initial product cost is quickly offset by the extensive use one item provides, with a single product lasting for many years. Crucially, the stickiness of the AlignX technology does not decrease after each wash, ensuring a consistently sustainable solution to kinesiology tape.
Effectiveness and Use
Comparing the effectiveness of kinesiology tape and WaveWear products is unique due to the additional benefits WaveWear provides beyond acting as kinesiology tape.
Focusing first on traditional kinesiology tape, numerous studies commonly find it highly effective in reducing pain and likely preventing injuries, especially in athletes (Dehghan et al., 2023).
Kinesiology tape's use extends beyond athletics, frequently appearing in medical or therapeutic practices. It's a common component in physical therapy routines for those recovering from injury, offering extra support to targeted areas.
The tape promotes better blood flow in targeted areas by gently lifting the skin off underlying muscles and fascia, creating space between them (Le, 2023). Overall, users experience high effectiveness when the tape is applied correctly, which is why the kinesiology tape market alone is valued at around 500 million USD in America.
How do WaveWear's benefits differ from those of regular kinesiology tape? To start, WaveWear offers similar support for injury prevention and targeted muscle support through its AlignX technology alone.
When looking at Figure B, the peel strength of WaveWear’s AlignX technology is slightly lower than that of average kinesiology tape. These test results indicate that WaveWear's "kinesiology" aspect has a slightly less aggressive grip than traditional tape.
However, this can actually be a benefit, especially when wearing the product for a prolonged period. The lower peel strength contributes to less skin irritation and still provides sufficient support, while also reducing the discomfort associated with removing the tape.
The AlignX technology achieves an outstanding balance between performance and comfort, sticking well enough for effectiveness, but being gentler on the skin.
Beyond the AlignX technology and its kinesiology aspect, WaveWear also provides the inherent benefits of compression wear. WaveWear integrates AlignX technology directly into its compression garments.
This allows for enhanced support to muscles and joints, along with a faster warm-up time due to increased compression. Combining AlignX technology with compression wear delivers the benefits of both kinesiology tape and compression wear in one product, leading to an even more sustainable solution by reducing the overall plastic needed for maximum muscle support and injury prevention.
*Bio Waved Adhesive Silicone (BWAS) was changed to AlignX.
References
Andrýsková, A., & Lee, J.-H. (2020). The Guidelines for Application of Kinesiology Tape for Prevention and Treatment of Sports Injuries. Healthcare, 8(2), 144. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8020144
Dehghan, F., Fouladi, R., & Martin, J. (2023). Kinesio taping in sports: A scoping review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.05.008
John B. Castro, P. (2023, September 20). Kinesiology tape: What it is and how to use it. Hospital for Special Surgery. https://www.hss.edu/health-library/move-better/kinesiology-tape
Le, K. (2023, May 23). The benefits of kinesiology taping for injury prevention: Hyperhealth. RSS. https://www.hyperhealth.com.au/post/the-benefits-of-kinesiology-taping-for-injury-prevention