by rocktapeuk | Jun 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
I have just finished being part of the Medical team looking after Athlete Services at CrossFit Regional’s in Denmark 2015. There was a team of 20 led by Danish local Per Rosenquist Kyed and ROCKTAPE Instructor Rob Crowley. The team included Massage Therapists, Sports Therapists, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors all of whom were all working for Rocktape. We began the process with the Clinical lead, ‘Rock Doc Rob’ showing our team the correct and most effective taping strategies for CrossFit athletes. Rob is a Chiropractor and CrossFit athlete himself, so he not only talks the talk, he walks the walk too! Most of the team had already been trained on the FMT 1 & 2 courses, but it was nice to refresh the skills. Rock Doc Rob’s golden rules are: • Round the edges of the tape • Stretch the body part before taping • Don’t touch the sticky part of the tape • Don’t tape on tape The treatment area was perfectly placed as we were imbedded in the athlete warm up area. The treatment areas were separated into two, an eight bedded massage area and a single bedded ‘Mobility’ area. The Mobility treatment area was for quick treatments/taping and the massage area was used for all treatments including taping. Thankfully there were no serious injuries, just tight sore muscles pumped with lactate. It was great to see so many British teams and individuals make it to regionals. The Rocktape team would like to think that we made a good contribution towards injury prevention and performance enhancement in all the athletes we treated. Big thanks to Simon, Pedro, Jade...
by rocktapeuk | May 18, 2015 | Interviews, Medical
Athlete Profile : Adam Everett Taekwon-do Junior Heavyweight world champion 2014 Adult British Welterweight champion patterns and sparing 2015 Qualified to represent England at the upcoming European Championships Adam is a key member of the Elite Academy at Truro College run by UKSCA coach Jamie Wilcocks. Physiotherapy is provided onsite by Rocktape tutor Daniel Lawrence who manages the Sports Injury Clinic in addition to his lecturing role in Truro. Daniel commented: Adams training is very intensive and although he has largely avoided injury this year he has required some assistance with recovery and maintaining full pain-free movement. We have utilised a range of treatments including passive mobilisation, MET, and soft tissue treatments. Adam has been using Rocktape for a couple of years to help reduce thoracic spine pain and to improve postural awareness. Adams comments on his training: I am now 18 but began training when I was 5. I train 4 nights a week, sometimes increasing to 6 nights a week in preparation for competitions, at Richards TKD St Austell and Falmouth with my instructors Mark and Wendy Richards, who have taught me since the beginning of my Taekwon-do career and prepare me with the necessary training to compete at the level that I do. I have participated in 2 European Championships in Naples and Barcelona respectively and 2 World Championships in Ottawa. Aspirations: By winning at national competitions, I have qualified to represent England at the upcoming European Championships in Moldova in July and I hope that here I will achieve at my first international competition as an adult competitor. Later in my Taekwon-do career, I would...
by rocktapeuk | May 8, 2015 | Guest Posts, Reviews
On March 25th 2015 saw me start the leg to Norway for Phase 2 of my expedition training. My alarm went off at 0355 for the taxi ride to T5 Heathrow – decent flight and 2 hours later I arrived in Oslo and put through the terminal with typical Norwegian efficiency. I had a few hours till kill before my four hour train trip to the mountains of the Hardangervidda National Park and my eventual start point for the exped, Haugastol. My excitement was growing every minute, so was my anxiety levels. To be expected considering the journey I’ve been on for the past couple of years I suppose. I arrived at a train station in Ustaoset, piled my RAB bags on my bag and stumbled off the train to an amused Carl Alvey and his typically northern greeting of “ya alrighte”. I arrived at the most perfect time – dinner. I cannot describe the food at Haugastol M.o.H Hotel, it really is sensational and a real treat in the ay its run. A total family run business, but they have a knack of making you feel art of the family, a simply wonderful place. A quick debrief with Carl and I headed for my room to take in the day and decamp my kit. 0650 and the alarm is going off for my day to begin, little did it know I’d beaten it by an hour as the nerves were in full swing by that stage. I headed up for breakfast and was greeted by other guests who are always keen to talk about what they are doing...
by rocktapeuk | May 7, 2015 | Guest Posts, Interviews
Hi, I’m Carl Sanderson, A 41 year old with Haemophilia A, a bleeding disorder where my blood doesn’t clot probably. So doing 1 Tough Mudder event is a challenge in itself. This year my challenge is to complete all the 16 Tough Mudder events in the UK. This will be done over 8 weekends, so running the Saturday and Sunday at each event. My reason is to raise awareness for Haemophilia and help change the image of how others see us. I want to raise enough money to provide a fun and educational treatment room for the children and their families affected by bleeding disorders at The RVI Newcastle, Haemophilia Centre. This will help them understand the condition and treatments better. I have use a number of different brands of sports/kinesiology tape over the pass a year or so, but all came off before I needed it too. I contacted ROCKTAPE to see if they tape would stay on over the course of my weekend events. “Best to go for our H20 tape, same price, industrial strength adhesive J” is the replyI got back. After being taped up by my physiotherapist on the Friday morning, it stayed on through 2 Tough Mudder events 3 showers and a hot bath when I got home. H2o ROCKTAPE is the tape I will use from now on! If you wish to help you can donate on my Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/carlsanderson Also check out my Facebook page for more details on my Tough Mudder Charity Challenge...
by rocktapeuk | May 6, 2015 | Reviews, Rocktape Kinesiology Tape
I ordered some online from Rocktape and bought a second roll in a shop to see if there was any difference between the two. When training for my 10k last summer I started getting shin splints to the point I could barely walk some days. Not knowing what the pain was, I tried to run through it and think I made it ten times worse. Since then I’ve spent months avoiding running until recently, I’m now trying to train for my two 10k events this summer. Knowing I was going to end up facing the same pain again, due to the way that I run; I’ve looked into everything that can help shin splints. This is when I came across Kinesiology Tape (or KT Tape). I’ve now completed three runs using the KT tape on my shins and I can happily say that so far, so good. I’ve experienced absolutely no pain in my shins, I’ve made sure to stretch after each run, trying to stretch my shins out more than I usually do too, and it’s making training much more bearable. As I’m no professional in physio or taping, I went online and found some videos to show me how to tape for shin splints. I used this video here and I will be sticking with this method in order to hopefully keep the pain away. There’s loads of great videos on this website demonstrating ways to tape for different injuries. Kinesiology tape is being used more and more by professional athletes and I saw probably 2/3 runners with it on at the London Marathon a few weeks ago so it...
by rocktapeuk | May 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
Bob Stewart, Head Of Medical Services, Gloucester Rugby Having used Rocktape over the past 3-4 years in a professional rugby environment, I can honestly say that it has proved it’s worth. I have used a variety of clinical applications to enhance both rehabilitation and performance. Whilst from an evidence-based practice perspective there currently appears to be little benefit in using kinesiotape specifically in comparison to other tape, I have found it very effective from a practice-based evidence perspective. Even in pro sport, we are in the business of modifying pain, optimizing movement and improving function. If I can alter subjective and objective markers through effective taping on a case-by-case basis then I will do so. Some individuals respond unbelievably well to taping just as others sometimes don’t. Being selective in how and why you apply the tape and to whom will benefit both your patients and your outcomes. Be objective. We use the Oedema Control Tapings consistently in the acute setting to good effect – particularly around acute joint / ligament strains ( ankle / foot ), haematomas ( thigh / biceps ) and post-surgical ( shoulder, hands, ankle ). I have had some great results using the tape to supplement the manual therapy that I primarily use. It works incredibly well when applied to neural and fascial interfaces – the tape has allowed me to get more effective carryover on a daily basis which is essential when you have short turnarounds. We’ve also used it to good effect in improving joint position and thus muscle activation especially around the shoulder and PFJ. The tapes flexibility allows the players...
by rocktapeuk | Apr 28, 2015 | Rocktape Kinesiology Tape
There’s nothing worse than not performing your best due to ripped callouses. Whether it’s a regular day at the box or a competition, here’s a simple yet effective way to protect your hands. 1. Measure and cut a strip that runs from the back of your hand to the bottom of your wrist. Remember that the tape is pre-stretched so cut it a bit shorter. Cut a smaller strip that will be wrapped around your wrist. 2. Cut 2 oval or diamond shaped holes about an inch or two from the end of the longer strip. 3. Apply the longer strip as seen in the photo, putting the ring finger and middle finger through the holes. Keep your hand, fingers and wrist spread out and apply the tape flat with no stretch or creases until it ends by your wrist. It is important to have clean dry hands for the tape to stick properly. 4. Apply the last strip with little or no stretch around your wrist so that it covers the previous...
by rocktapeuk | Apr 27, 2015 | Exhibitions
It’s been a hectic week but I am ready for my first taste of a RockTape event that myself and several other students have signed up for. The event itself was held at the ExCeL Centre in East London and is for the tens of thousands of runners in the Virgin Money London Marathon, ahead of the big day on the 26th April. This was a chance for them to collect their runner number, timing tag and kitbag. As well as see what an amazing event they have signed up for. We were scheduled to arrive at 10:30am, half an hour to the open of the first day of this four-day event. I didn’t know at the time but Paula Radcliffe was schedule to open the Exhibition. After collecting my ExCeL exhibitors pass I tried to make my way over to RockTape. Stand 267, at the start this information felt like it would help but having wound my way past, NSPCC, Lucozade, Bupa, Skins, Sweat Shop and ironically, TomTom, it didn’t feel like it was helping at all. Eventually, I spotted the famiilar red and black motif and my fellow RockDoc’s. We were armed with our RockTape t-shirts and tape and moved over to the much larger area given to us by the Sweat Shop (and no, this was unfortunately, not the one I passed earlier) where we set up beds and promotional items ready to sell and tape for free. The first hour or two was pretty slow going, I hadn’t really taped any one but once the Lucozade DJ started playing and our first few customers were getting...
by rocktapeuk | Mar 23, 2015 | Medical
First a bit of a back story, I started off with my severe chronic back pain over 4 years ago now. I came back from a holiday in turkey with severe back pain, which at the time we just put down to sleeping in a terrible bed for two weeks. The first night back home I woke up unable to move from my neck down, over the next few hours my upper body started to regain feeling but not entirely and my legs regained a small bit of feeling but where more or less entirely numb. I have spent many weeks in hospital over the past few years, there have been times where I was well too though. To start with these “healthy” periods where lasting a matter of a few weeks before the back pain came back and I lost feeling in my legs. The pain has been constant ranging from lower back where it is at its worst (especially on the left side) to my shoulder blades, my spine also suffers from intermittent shooting pains which are terrible. My problem has never been fully diagnosed, but now im in a healthy period my back pain is still very severe effecting my daily life. My hands are still a little numb as are my feet but nothing compared to what im used to whilst in the wheelchair. There is a hell of a lot more to my story but far too much to explain in one post!! I started using ROCKTAPE during one of my well periods when I was able to get to the point where I...
by rocktapeuk | Mar 4, 2015 | Medical, Studies
Simple ROCKTAPE Applications for Common Aches and Pains By Paul Coker A lot of folks involved in kinesiology taping will tell you that tape should only be applied by a super-special, highly trained, jedi tape ninja. (Actual title may vary). They will discourage athletes and members of the public from even attempting to self-tape. They will probably also tell you that only therapists trained in their education system and accredited by their official sounding, but sort of made up, association should tape you up. I don’t really agree with any of that, bear in mind I am a physiotherapist, tape instructor, and tape company medical director!! I think that in many situations, many people can and should consider self-taping. There are some caveats and exceptions that I will mention. First and most important; if you have a pain that is any of the following you should see e a experienced, competent therapist/medic. You have a pain you rate as strong or severe (on a scale of 0-10: 6 or above) You have a pain which doesn’t stop or become mild (under 3/10) in any position You have a pain which is worsening despite resting it. Self-taping is best suited to those little niggles, aches and pains. The ones that don’t exactly stop you in your tracks, but none-the-less, stop you moving freely, playing your sport, standing at work. If you are anything like me, and 95% of the world, you know the kind of niggles I mean. Now before you grab a roll of ROCKTAPE and get sticking, there are a few things you need to know to ensure...
