Taping & Strapping

Which Tape is best for my ankle?

Power Podiatry uses premium tapes to enhance your treatment and recovery from foot and leg pain. Sports tape is no longer the only option for taping a sports injury but you need to know which tape is right for your foot or leg condition before investing in a role of tape from your chemist or pharmacy. Below is a summary of the properties of each tape that we use in our Torquay, Hervey Bay podiatry clinic. Ask our Podiatrist Colin Power if taping will benefit your foot condition on your next visit.

K-Tape or similar

The theory behind using Kinesiology Tape is primary a neurophysiological approach where the aim is to lift the skin to create space in order to take pressure off pain sensitive structures, to increase the circulation or to effect muscle activity via the input into the nervous system through the skin.

• Promote and improve circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Correct muscle, joint, fascia function to provide pain relief
• Reduce friction and pressure on damaged tissues, relieving pain
• Supports and promotes injury recovery

Dynamic / Active Tape

Dynamic Tape / Active Tape is a different tool for a different job. It has completely different physical properties and is used very differently to rigid athletic tapes or kinesiology tapes.

Dynamic / Active Tape is a highly elastic tape which stretches in all directions and has very strong recoil properties. It can be laminated together to increase this power. It stretches much further and does not have a rigid end point like kinesiology tapes.

In simple terms it provides strong mechanical assistance to reduce the work on injured tissues.

Rigid Tape

Rigid strapping tape (Sports Tape) is extra strong for maximum support, helping to prevent excessive joint movement that causes injury. Perfect for athletes from all levels of sport wanting to protect themselves from injury. 

• Used to support joints under high stress during aggressive sports activities
• Strong rigid construction provides excellent support
• Prevents excessive joint movement that causes injury (ankle ligament sprain), when taped correctly

Pro’s & Con’s of Taping

The science is not always clear and you have to take promotion and marketing of various products into consideration as far as biased opinions go. We run through a selection and education process with you before deciding if taping will benefit your treatment plan. If the evidence for the use of a taping product is not supported in current literature but is anecdotally supported we will trial the product after discussions with you.

Taping is a useful tool in your recovery and used appropriately may assist the process. Taping may give valuable feedback and your podiatrist will use this information to adjust your treatment plan.

We suggest you discuss your previous experiences with taping, successes and failures so that we don’t waste time and money. Even though we use the best low allergy adhesive tapes that money can buy we know that some people don’t do well with being taped. Talk to us, we will listen.