RockTape Lets You Go Stronger, Longer
Running hurts sometimes. Rock Tape can help you run through the pain while fixing the issues that cause it. Tester Ashly Miller pits Rock Tape against her shin splints to see how well it works.
Rock Tape; $19, rocktape.com.
The Good: Heal injuries in record time, alleviates pain, and supports areas of strength and weakness. And it comes in several colors and patterns.
The Bad: If you have to or like to use it often, it gets pricey. You can buy it in bulk online, and they often have sales.
The Ugly: You could get carried away and end up looking like fruit stripe gum.
What sets Rock Tape apart from other sports and kinesiology tape on the market is that it is stretchier, breathable, and you can wear it for a few days before having to re-tape; it stays on the skin better than any other sports tapes I have used. Additionally, it doesn’t come precut, which I like because I can decide how I want to use it and then cut it accordingly.
At $19 a roll, it’s not cheap, but the immediate pain from my shin splints totally sold me. Moreover, I could go out and still run with no issue, while I corrected the cause of the problem and healed the injury.
On their website and YouTube there are several instructional videos on how to apply it for various injuries as well as performance. I have used this for every muscle tear and tendonitis that I have sustained during my adventures. I have found that because it helps raise the skin and increase blood flow, I have healed faster, and have been able to keep training and racing without interruption. When applied to an injured location, it alleviates the pain by 50%. This has been really helpful for areas where blood is hard to reach, like shins and Achilles. It is like having a second skin with all of the benefits of compression pants.
I use this even when I am not injured for races to provide extra support to weak areas as well as “power tape” to help my major muscle groups “go stronger longer.” Or simply to tape up my feet for blister prevention on long runs. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. And there is also a RockTape specifically for water sports.
Other athletic tapes fray, roll, don’t give adequate support, don’t stick well during activity, and end up causing more frustration than help. Injured or healthy, put it to the test on your next hard work out; your muscles will be able to push longer and the RockTape will still be there, ready for another round, long after they fail.
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Tags: cycling, hiking, kinesiology tape, mud run, rock tape, running, trail running
Author: Ashly Miller
