Although your heart pumps blood throughout your body, lymph is not aided by a pump. Instead, it is up to you to stimulate lymph flow through your daily activities. A stimulated lymph system helps get rid of toxic waste in your body. A lack of stimulation or a blocked path can result in swelling. In some cases, pain receptors are activated when there is pressure from blocked lymph flow and as a result, pain is felt throughout the affected area.
Whether you experience an injury or intense workout, the stress causes your skin and muscle to compact, blocking any space between the two. When the space is compacted, lymph is unable to adequately flow which creates swelling. Likewise, the tight compaction causes pressure on your pain receptors which sends signals to your brain that cause you to actually feel pain. Here's where Kinesio tape comes in handy. When applied correctly to a muscle, Kinesio tape subtly lifts the skin creating a small space between your skin and muscle.
With a secure space, lymph is able to flow and there is less pressure on your pain receptors. With these results, athletes have felt compelled to sport Kinesio tape when they exercise in order to prevent future discomfort after exercising. Although Kinesio tape has been around for decades, there is no overwhelming scientific evidence proving its merits. However, that doesn't mean Kinesio tape is ineffective. The tape can also be used to explain defeat or bad performance. Wearing the tape clearly shows the swimmer is suffering from some sort of injury.
Some swimmers could be using the tape simply to explain that their below-average performance was due to an injury, not lack of skill. Finally, the tape can be nothing more than a fashion statement. It comes in an array of bright colors and designs a brilliant marketing strategy, I might add and can be a fun, neon addition to any swimsuit.
Kinesio tape differs from conventional tape because of its flexibility. Conventional tape is rigid and firm and is usually wrapped tightly around the injured are to restrict its movement and give support, similar to a cast. Pro-Tip: For best results, have a trained medical professional apply your Kinesio tape. Kinesio tape can be worn for multiple days.
In fact, the KT website claims that it can be worn for up to five days. You can wear it for any physical activity, including swimming. However, swimmers and divers should expect their tape to stay on for a lot less than that because water will affect the adhesive on the tape. My tape, for example, stayed on for about two days. When it comes to the sport of swimming, rules and regulations on apparel are very strict.
This is because certain apparel can make a swimmer move through the water faster, providing an unfair advantage. These rules obviously extend to taping. In swimming, taping is only permitted if there is a sound medical reason for its use and it does not provide an advantage to the user in any way.
USA swimming declared that Kinesio tapes are banned from competition for providing an unfair advantage, while NCAA allows taping only with prior approval. There are exceptions to the rules, but they are few and far between.
It is best to be on the safe side and avoid wearing any kind of athletic tape during your event. It is okay to wear the tape during warm up and cool down, however. If you plan on wearing tape during your event, clear it with an official and your athletic trainer first.
Pro-Tip: Always check with an official before your event to make sure the tape you are wearing is legal. Sage started swimming when she was five years old and is still swimming today. Currently, she is competing collegiately at the division one level and specializes in the breaststroke.
When Sage is not swimming, she is either coaching swimming or studying to get her degree in English creative writing. Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.
The breaststroke is the best stroke. Now, I may be a little biased because I've been a breaststroker for the entirety of my 19 years as a swimmer, but I definitely have a love for this awkward, Every swimmer has a love hate relationship with the butterfly. An adhesive bandage over an open wound is a medical aid.
It doesn't make the swimmer faster and is permitted. Kinesio tape may have a medical purpose, but is generally considered to provide a swimmer with an advantage. In individual cases, a referee may permit its use if it is determined it does not provide any advantage.
Andrea Boldt has been in the fitness industry for more than 20 years.
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