Rock Tape vs. Kinesio Tape Field Test

Coming off my marathon training, this is probably a good time for me to share my experiences using the two different tapes: RockTape and Kinesio Tape.

As many of you know, my left Achilles tendon was aggravated a little over five weeks ago. On suggestion from another runner, I checked into the Kinesio Tape.

Then, after wearing the Kinesio tape for a couple of weeks, I posted my feedback on my blog. Scott Regan a representative of RockTape saw my post. He offered to send me a sample of the RockTape to test.

Over the past week I have been wearing the Rock Tape including in my marathon this past weekend.

I decided to use the RockTape during the marathon based on reading the information on the RockTape website. Specifically, I liked that is was designed for endurance athletes. Interestingly enough, I was wearing the RockTape at the Expo on Saturday afternoon and a number of people came up to me asking about it. I shared my reasoning for wearing it and the help that I thought the tape was providing.

RockTape and Kinesio come packaged in several different ways. I started with the standard 5 meter in roll of Kinesio Tape that I purchased. For RockTape, I used the 1.5 meter strip which Scott sent to me.

The Kinesio tape cost about roughly 12 dollars for the 5 meter roll. RockTape cost about 18 dollars for the same 5 meter length.

I did the wrapping myself. For the Kinesio taping I used the following link:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid5988543001?bclid=0&bctid=6451361001. I found this link via a Google search.

For the RockTape, I use the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNwCgGlWeUM. RockTape provides a number of videos for taping various injuries. The videos are well worth the time to watch in case you ever get injured.

Both videos illustrate wrapping the Achilles tendon in the similar ways, but there are some settle differences.

In all fairness, I spent more time using the Kinesio Tape so there were more opportunities for research.

Also, I wanted to note that once I applied the tape whether RockTape or Kinesio Tape, I didn't remove it for 7 days. In the case of the Kinesio Tape, I did have to trim the edges of the tape regularly as it started to peel off.

Here's my likes and dislikes for Kinesio

 

• Likes:
  
  • Easy and simple to apply
    
  • Cost
    
• Dislikes
  
  • Tends to come off it rub against. I guess that I toss and turn at night. The bed covers would rub against the Kinesio tape and cause it to peel off.
    
  • No explanation on wrapping techniques from the vender's web site.
    
  • If you don't apply it correctly the first time, pulling it off and reapplying decreases the tapes ability to stick.
    

Here's my likes and dislikes for the RockTape

• Likes
  
  • Sticks very well and easy to apply
    
  • Good videos to show you how to apply it.
    
• Dislikes
  
  • Where the tape is trimmed with scissors, little strings start to unravel from the tape. Not a huge issue, you can just clip them off.
    
  • 18 dollars vs. 12 dollars in the budget minded economy will probably send lots of people to Kinesio
    

  
  
   

A clear winner is difficult to choose. For my every day workouts, I might go with the Kinesio tape because of the cost, but on race day, I would probably switch out to the RockTape. The RockTape tends to stick better and stand the stress of the workout better.

 

Thoughts from the Cool Down Runner