Application Studies / Kinesiology Tapes #8 – Relaxation & Cyclic Fatigue

Kinesiology Tapes #8 – Relaxation & Cyclic Fatigue

Industry:

Adhesives

Materials

Medical Devices

Attributes measured:

adhesiveness

shear strength

elasticity

relaxation

cyclic fatigue

strain force

retained energy

tensile force

Background

This is the eighth application study on kinesiology tapes (for the first study, see here). Kinesiology tapes provide support in a manner which does not limit movement because they are woven with elastic and inelastic fibers. The elastic fibers typically stretch in a lengthwise orientation. The support comes mostly from inelastic fibers or cotton which do not stretch and are typically oriented laterally. Kinesiology tapes are partially stretched when applied to the body so the tapes may incrementally stretch further upon active use. Maintaining recoil/tensile strength after being applied is critical to their ongoing function. This study measures how well tapes retain their tensile strength for five seconds after being stretched to 25% strain and again after they are stretched to 50% strain. This study also examines how the tapes retain their strength after 50 cycles of stretching to 75% strain.