KT tape for calf pain, or any elastic tape for that matter, is unable to provide any restriction or protection against excessive movement. Rigid strapping tape, used after ankle sprains, is designed to restrict movement and protect against excessive stretch. It won’t protect against excessive movement.
Tape might feel supportive but that’s the kind of support you get from a warm hug from Mum – not the support you need like an ankle brace or rigid strapping tape. So it’s unable to support any joints or movement. It stretches easily and stretches further than muscles, tendons and skin. If it helps initially, you can gradually phase it out by reducing the number of strips of tape per application or just apply it lighter until it’s not required. If it hasn’t made a difference after 3 sessions, don’t bother with the tape and save your money. KT tape for calf pain might work as soon as it goes on but sometimes it takes a while for the brain to adapt to the new input. If the pain gets to 4/10 at 5k, instead of 5/10 without the tape, it might just be wishful thinking.Īs a general rule, you’re looking for a change in pain of at least 2/10 to make it likely to be more than chance. If the pain kicks in 500m later, that’s not a big enough change to declare victory.
It might be that the pain starts later in the run, there’s less pain by the end of your usual run or the aching disappears quicker after the run.īut the change you’re looking for is clear and noticeable. The improvement you’re looking for comes in different forms. If you’re using KT tape for calf pain, you should know if it’s making a difference within 2-3 training sessions. It’s got a quality adhesive and water resistant & breathable material so it can be worn for days without any issues. You can get a 16ft roll in a range of colors. If it doesn’t tighten up immediately, you can peel it off and restick the same piece of tape a few times before adhesion becomes a problem. That tension should increase as soon as you begin to squat (ie. To ensure you have the right tension, you should be able to stand up with only mild tension felt. Ensure this piece of tape wraps all the way around and sticks to itself. Stop the tape just below the knee.Īnchor each end of the tape by applying a circumferential tape around the foot/ankle and upper calf to hold the ends in place. Start from below the calf muscle – this may be from the lower Achilles tendon or, for more pressure, from under the heel. When applying KT tape for calf pain, position the foot slightly pointed and add some light tension to the tape as you stick to to the skin. The most effective way to apply KT tape for calf pain or calf strains
#ROCK TAPE CALF STRAIN HOW TO#
We’ve got more detail on the causes of calf pain here, as well as how to differentiate between causes. It might distract you from the underlying pain for a short time – people often describe feeling more secure with the area taped up firmly.īut it’s not helping – it only masks the trouble while the injury continues to get worse. In the case of calf pain due to bone loading and impact, taping your calf won’t change the impact loading on the bone. It doesn’t happen instantly but if you’re still using the tape after a month, start to gradually reduce the reliance on tape and look for alternative methods.
This creates a cycle where the brain learns to control the area with feedback from the tape so, without it, the problem is worse than ever. The brain is initially helped by the extra feedback but after a while, it comes to rely on it. That can help temporarily and the injury may recover after a few weeks.īut using the tape as an ongoing “crutch” is a waste of time and money. If the calf pain is arising due to abnormal loading on the Achilles tendon, the tape improves the control of tendon forces by giving feedback on tendon stretch.
Just using KT tape for calf pain misses the point – you need to address the underlying cause of the injury.
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