Info: What is RockTape?

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Category: Kinesiology Taping

Published on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 01:23

Written by Admin

RockTape Kinesiology tape for Active Recovery from amazon

There is a new kinesio tape on the scene called Rocktape. This tape is designed specifically for elite, pro and amateur athletes who value stickiness and performance such as triathletes, swimmers and marathoners. In short, it is engineered to hold up to the rigors of athletic training and competition. Their tagline is 'Go stronger, go longer.' It certainly captures the attention-- in so many ways.

Rocktape is designed to enhance performance.

It can prevent injury, reduce pain and keep appendages healing if you have an injury. Rocktape is engineered for therapeutic applications as opposed to clinical applications. So if you have a history of shin splints, Rocktape applied correctly will facilitate healing and help you prevent them if you are predisposed.

This goes without saying that if you have biomechanical issues that cause shin splints, you'll need to address those potential causes as well like your gait, your shoes etc. So don't undermine the importance of a professional medical opinion because tape and something like an orthotic, for example, can work together. It also does not help to apply tape for shin splints if you have something else entirely. So a good diagnosis is part of the equation of success.

A new brand of kinesiology tape meant to remove lactic acid and keep legs, arms, joints energized for athletic performance.

How Rocktape works

When applied properly, ROCKTAPE lifts the skin away from the muscle, which promotes blood flow. Faster blood flow means more oxygen and more lymph drainage, which helps remove Lactic Acid.

Rocktape is supposed to help you go faster by reducing muscle vibration which can cause fatigue and help promote blood flow and lactic acid removal. Greater elasticity of the tape allows for more ROM (range of motion).

Cost

It does cost more than Kinesio Tex Tape and KT Tape but it is engineered to stay on in a competition so you'll need to evaluate that advantage when purchasing. Probably on par with SpiderTech pricewise but SpiderTech is pre-cut and pre engineered for specific injuries so it's harder to compare.

I have samples sent to me by the manufacturer and preliminary results have been good.

1. It is designed to have a higher elasticity (160%+, as compare to 130%-140%)
2. The adhesive is stickier and had lasted through the rigors of many triathlons
3. The weave is tighter, which is better suited to athletes.
4. Better suited for therapeutic applications.
5. More colors and graphics with more on the way (they have a design for breast cancer awareness coming out with close to 50% of the retail price going to breast cancer research)
6. This brand is supposed to hold up better than other brands for swimming triathlon competitions
7. There are instructions in every box
8. It lasts 2-3 days and it's 100% organic cotton
9. It does not work under compression shorts but once they are removed it will do it's job
10. They offer club discounts to groups
11. The underside, or glue side has a pattern designed to channel sweat and water away.

Interesting kinesiology tape glue side patterns below.

I asked the Rocktape representative about the differences.

"The backing is a unique plow weave. Much in the same way a tire channels water away and creates a greater contact patch with the road for better grip, Rocktape channels water away and stays on better than tapes with a wavy grip. This is REALLY important for athletes who are sweating and for swimmers," says a representative from Rocktape.

He goes on  to say, "The plow weave also allows Rocktape to have greater elasticity than other brands 190% versus the other brands 130%. The net of it is: Kinesio and KT Tape were designed for static therapeutic/clinical applications. This paved the road for proving the efficacy of kinetic tape, but the athletic applications were an afterthought. Rocktape was specifically ENGINEERED to hold up to the rigors of athletic training and competition. We're also  Ironman tested and proven and the only tape approved as part of USA Cycling's endorsed product program."

Rocktape has a straight pattern on the glue side. (The part you see when you remove backing). This is designed to channel water and sweat and keep the tape on your body.	Kinesio Tex tape has a wider wave pattern on the glue side.
KT Tape has a smaller wave-like weave on the glue side