Comparative Insights into Kinesiology Tape and Wavewear
From Tape to Tech: Evaluating the Performance and Environmental Impact of WaveWear vs. Traditional Kinesiology Tape
Abstract
Since the late 2000s, kinesiology tape has seen a drastic increase in popularity and consumption, specifically with athletes, but what is it exactly? Kinesiology tape is an elastic therapeutic tape made from a thin, stretchy, synthetic fabric. It is designed to mimic the elasticity of human skin and muscles, allowing it to provide dynamic support without restricting the range of motion. Kinesiology tape requires precise application to receive its full benefits, but that is where WaveWear comes in.
This report will dive into the differences between WaveWear and traditional Kinesiology tape, highlighting key differences such as application process, sustainability, and effectiveness.
Application Process
When looking at the traditional kinesiology tape prevalent in the therapeutic and sporting industries, the application process can be challenging to get the hang of. There are thousands of videos explaining in depth how to apply the kinesiology tape to each specific body part properly, but still, people misapply it, leading to less effective results. There are many guidelines to follow with kinesiology tape to try and ensure the best results, and the list is extensive. Some of the main tips are to apply the tape to a clean area without dirt, oils, or sweat, and to shave longer body hairs to allow for better taping adhesion (Andrýsková, 2020).
Due to the taping effect of this product, the same tape is recommended not to be worn for more than a day to avoid skin irritation, and new tape must be applied each day. On top of these specifications regarding taping, according to the National Library of Medicine, it is required to have “Approximately 2–3 cm of the starting and ending point of the tape needs to be applied to the skin without any stretching.” (Andrýsková, 2020). Applying kinesiology tape is confusing as is, but all of these specifications to receive the best results are the leading cause for less positive results in those using kinesiology tape.
Although there are many specifications regarding taping, the videos make it more helpful to ensure the best results are seen. It is still said that even with the videos, taping should be done by professionals because it requires a “certain clinical background,” making it less accessible for the everyday user to get the full range of benefits from the product (Castro, 2023).
On the contrary, WaveWear has a more straightforward application process, making it more user-friendly and easier to receive the product's full benefits. WaveWear incorporates Bio Waved Adhesive Silicone (BWAS), which has been researched and developed for six years and is mapped in a waved design to recreate the effects of kinesiology taping (refer to Figure A).
One of the leading causes for the creation of WaveWear was to offer an easier way to gain the benefits of kinesiology tape without having to go through the application process. The BWAS technology works well with sweat and is CE Medical Class 1 approved, meaning it is non-toxic and safe for your skin. The ease of application reduces the effectiveness of WaveWear when compared to kinesiology tape, but it offers many more benefits that will later be explored.
(Figure A)
(Difference in the application process between the two)
Sustainability
One aspect that separates kinesiology tape and WaveWear from each other is the sustainability of the two. Analyzing the sustainability of kinesiology tape first, this is one aspect of kinesiology tape that still requires heavy innovation. Kinesiology tape is bought in a roll of tape and separated into specific pieces to use. This roll lasts around 1 month, as the tape can be used for 3-5 days, but it should be switched daily. There are 15-20 applications of tape in the roll, so after this is gone, another roll must be bought. The fact that the tape must be switched at least once every 3-5 days creates a lot of waste that adds up over time.
Brands market the tape as breathable or skin-friendly, but they are not compostable or recyclable, as kinesiology tape is not biodegradable. This creates a continuous waste stream, especially in clinical or athletic settings, adding to significant plastic-based waste. As environmental sustainability continues to become a more pressing issue, more environmentally friendly tapes have been developed, but they swap key beneficial features for sustainability.
WaveWear, however, found a solution for the sustainability issue through their washable and reusable products. WaveWear combines its BWAS technology, which acts as the kinesiology tape, with compression wear material clothing, making their product have a long-lasting life span.
WaveWear presents consumers with a sustainable option similar to kinesiology tape that benefits them financially. Kinesiology tape becomes more and more expensive when new rolls of tape are continuously bought. With WaveWear, the product cost is quickly made back in the amount of use one item can get you, with one product lasting up to many years. After each wash, the stickiness of the BWAS technology does not decrease, allowing for a sustainable solution to kinesiology tape.
Effectiveness and Use
When comparing kinesiology tape and WaveWear products, it is hard to do so because of the ample benefits that WaveWear brings along with it, aside from acting as kinesiology tape. Diving into the benefits of kinesiology tape first, one of the most common findings through numerous studies is that kinesiology tape is highly effective in reducing pain and is likely to prevent injuries in athletes, specifically (Dehghan, 2023).
Kinesiology tape extends beyond the athletic scope and is often used in medical or therapeutic practices. It is a common component mixed into physical therapy routines for those working through or recovering from injury because it helps to provide extra support to the targeted areas one might be struggling with. The tape promotes better blood flow in the targeted areas by lifting the skin off the underlying muscles and fascia, creating space between them (Le, 2023). Overall, users see high effectiveness when the tape is applied correctly, which is why the kinesiology tape market alone is around 500 million USD in America.
How do WaveWear benefits differ from the benefits provided by regular kinesiology tape? To start, WaveWear offers similar support for injury prevention and extra support through their BWAS technology alone. When looking at Figure B, the peel strength of WaveWear’s BWAS technology is slightly lower than that of average kinesiology.These test results mean that the WaveWear kinesiology side of the product has slightly less grip than that of the average Kinesiology tape, but this can also be a benefit when wearing the product for a prolonged period.
The lower peel strength is attributed to less skin irritation and still provides sufficient support while reducing the discomfort associated with removing the tape. The BWAS technology offers an outstanding balance between performance and comfort, sticking well enough for comfort, but is gentler on the skin.
On top of the benefits that WaveWear provides with its BWAS technology and its kinesiology aspect, it also provides the benefits of compression wear when using it. WaveWear combines the BWAS technology into their compression wear to allow for more support to the muscles and joints, as well as faster warm-up time from the increased compression. Combining the BWAS technology into the compression wear to get the benefits of kinesiology tape and compression wear into one allows for an even more sustainable product, reducing the overall plastics needed to ensure maximum muscle support and injury prevention.
(Figure B)
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