South West health uses a high performance tape when we tape our athletes. It is called Rocktape, a company based in northern California. The tape is designed to optimize and improve motion. Most tape is designed to restrict motion, not Rocktape. The weave pattern is tighter on Rocktape as compared to standard Kinesio Tape. In addition, the adhesive that is utilized is stronger so the tape stays on better during competition. Rocktape even makes a version that is waterproof that works with water sports like surfing, swimming and water polo.

Rocktape is the one-and-only developer of Power Taping, a method to apply tape to increase performance. While we can’t take a 5-hour marathoner and turn her into a 3-hour runner, we can take a 3-hour runner and help her get to somewhere below the magic 3 hour mark. How?  Core stabilization and proprioception. Core stabilization leads to better diaphragm use and proprioception leads to better form.  Unlike other tapes made for rehabilitation, Rocktape was created in the heat of competition. We knew first hand that medical tape would fail under race conditions so we developed a lab in the Santa Cruz mountains where we could test our product until it meet our standards. Rocktape may cost a little more, but when it’s all on the line, it’s nice to know you’ve got the best product in the business 

Stretching is good. Our research shows that by making our tape with 190% elasticity, we allow the athlete fuller and better range of motion. Our competitors only offer 130-150% stretch. Can you feel the difference? To us, it’s like night and day. When we wear our competitors tape we feel like we’ve been bound – we don’ believe that’s what anyone wants to feel when you’re walking much less running.

There are always options in life and compromises can be made. When we designed our tape, we wanted superior snap-back which is the ability of the tape to stretch without too much resistance, yet provide assistance to muscles when they return to neutral. To get the right stretch and recovery dynamics and the proper moisture defense we were faced with using a special nylon called 6/12 which is more expensive.

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