The Joy of Tape.

[Rob_and_his_westie]

Several months ago I twisted my left knee as I got up from the seat on my train journey home from work. It stopped me running for a couple of weeks in the summer and although I've been running ever since, I've always had the feeling that it wasn't quite right. After a 10k back in early December, I managed to hurt my other knee during the run and just about made it to the finish. I rested for a couple of weeks again and then ventured out very tentatively to see how things were going. It was OK, but after the run it certainly ached more than usual.

I couldn't face having two dodgy knees that I would have to be careful with, so I did some reading and convinced myself that my problem wasn't a catastrophic medical condition but was in fact the knee occasionally rotating in the wrong direction (i.e slightly Left right rather than back and forth) I decided that I needed to do something to strengthen it and keep it in place. I tried a standard off the shelf knee brace, which was OK for a short run, but didn't do much else. Then, I saw a picture on a sports website of someone 'wearing' (if that's the word) some blue tape across their knee joints. I looked it up. It's called Kinesio Tape and the idea is that it holds muscles and joints in place. Nonsense I thought, how can external tape work? I looked up the science and there's precious little to go on other than a possible placebo effect but I decided to give it a go anyway. The brand I found is called KT (kttape.co.uk) and it was on the shelf at my local Boots the Chemist.

I followed the videos on the website and applied the tape. It lasts about three days and will survive a shower (their claim and I can verify that too). Now, here's the really interesting bit. I have just completed two runs in three days using a single application of the tape; a 10k and a 5k and not only were the runs pain free, but my recovery from the usual aches and pains was far quicker! Placebo or not, for my particular condition, this stuff appears to work very well indeed. There are two negative things. First is the cost, so I'm not expecting it to be a permanent addition to my running gear, and second is that I had to shave my legs.... Boy, did I get some stick for that from my family.....

Anyhow, I appreciate this is starting to sound like a bit of an advert, but the truth is I seem to have found something that genuinely works for me and I'm interested if anyone else has tried it?

[c4ts Graduate]

I have had a niggle at heel / ankle/ Achilles for over a year and I quite regularly use KT to stretch around ankle, and up back of leg. It definitely does not cause any harm (or stop flexibility in the joints) and I think if just gives me a bit more confidence.

A definite like from me as well, and agree that it lasts through showers and runs.

The various videos for application are good, as it does seem to be best to stick, then sretch and then stick to make it fit best.

[AncientMum Graduate]

Hi Rob, my physio applied masses of K-tape to stablise my knee when I had all the trouble with it over the summer. He put it on in different ways depending on the area he'd worked on and where I was feeling discomfort. It does stay on really well, in fact one lot stayed put for 6days ( I was getting showered every day, honest) I know Spoonie used to use it a lot and Miles_Yonder too. I'm not surprised your finding it helpful, it's fab stuff.

[Barbarajs Graduate]

Sounds like good stuff....wonder if it'd work on my dodgy old woman shin

[Rignold]

I see a lot of other runners at Cross-country and OCR events bound up like day-glo parcels. Am going to give it a try as I also have an on/off knee issue from a skate injury many many years ago come back to haunt me in my dotage.

[Runon Graduate]

Thanks for recommending this - works an absolute treat on my foot - love the stuff.

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate in reply to Runon]

Fascinating isn't it? I still can't believe how well it works.

[Runon Graduate in reply to Rob_and_his_westie]

Yep - I'm so impressed with it - so far I've only used the 'Original' Boots purple tape but will be trying out the 'Pro' waterproof version to see if it stays on in the shower! Thanks again - this is a tremendous forum for simply finding things out.