There are really just 2 types of tape out there, medical tape and athletic tape.
Several tapes refer to themselves as kinesiology tapes and those are all in the athletic tape category.
"Athletic tape" = "Kinesiology tape" = "Kinesio tape"
"KB Tape" = "Medical Tape"
"Medical tape" is in a category of its own.
If you are regularly taping an injury, you need medical tape.
If you plan to wear tape for hours each day, materials and regulation matter.
KB Tape® is a Class I medical device made with ISO 10993-5/-10 tested materials for biocompatibility during extended skin contact.
That is the medical-tape pathway, not the general athletic-market route.
By contrast, Athletic Tape markets to athletes and includes fine-print disclaimers on several claims about safety and efficacy, such as "Suggested by academic hypothesis. Not clinically proven." Nowhere does Athletic Tape cite FDA recognized medical testing or ISO-10993 standards for proven safety. Because Kinesiology Tape is not proven like medical products are, not registered with the FDA, not certified to medical grade standards.
| What You Care About | KB Tape® | Athletic Tape |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory approach for daily wear | Class I medical device | Athletic Apparel |
| Biocompatibility for extended contact | ISO 10993-5/-10 materials | "not clinically proven." |
| Fine print on claims | No Fine Print: Claims in line with medical-device use | "Suggested by academic hypothesis, not clinically proven" |
If you have a soft tissue injury and plan to wear tape all day, every day, that is a very different use case than an athlete who tapes for a couple of hours before a workout.
Multi-hour, multi-week wear is where materials and regulation matter most.
KB Tape® is a Class I medical device made with ISO 10993-5/-10 tested materials for extended skin contact.
Kinesio tape markets primarily to athletes and even suggests wearing tape for a few days, but when you need continuous, day-after-day support through a multi-week recovery, medical-grade construction is the safer, smarter choice.
For occasional short use, almost any tape might seem fine; for daily wear during healing, it would be crazy not to choose medical grade.
"Medical grade" is not a marketing phrase. It means the tape is made and labeled under medical device rules. In practice, that forces tighter control over materials and how they impact your skin hour after hour, day after day. KB Tape® follows the Class I medical device route, which is the path intended for products that are worn on the body for extended periods.
ISO 10993 is a family of safety tests used on materials that contact your skin. The -5 part looks for cell damage (cytotoxicity). The -10 part looks for irritation and sensitization (rashes and allergic responses). Passing those tests means the adhesive and backing are vetted for prolonged skin contact, not just a quick workout.
Real life is not a lab and you should not be a guinea pig. You sweat, you shower, you work, you sleep. Adhesives that are fine for short athletic bursts can be too harsh when they sit on warm skin all day. That can mean redness, itching, or skin breakdown that forces you to stop using tape right when you need it most. KB Tape® is designed for extended wear, so you can keep the support on during normal daily life without paying for it later with skin problems.
If you searched for Athletic Tape, chances are you have a spot that keeps flaring up every time you reach, twist, lift, or even try to sleep. You do not need hype. You need something you can wear through work, errands, and light activity that helps you avoid those sudden setbacks while you heal. That is exactly where KB Tape® shines.
Most soft tissue injuries do not fail to heal. They are healing, but then get re-injured by one wrong move. That sharp zap you feel halfway through the day is not new damage; it is the same tissue getting stressed again. Tape is not magic, but it is armor for your injury. Put it on correctly and it limits the "too far" part of motion that keeps poking the injured spot.
By stiffening the skin directly over the sore point, KB Tape® reduces excess motion underneath. This helps protect the tissue from those sharp, setback twinges, while still letting you move normally everywhere else. That is the real purpose of taping: targeted support that prevents reinjury and keeps your recovery on track.
If you are going to wear tape day after day, pick one built and tested for the long haul. KB Tape® follows the medical device path and uses ISO 10993-5/-10 materials. Kinesio tape markets as athletic gear and includes "not clinically proven" disclaimers on benefit claims. For everyday comfort, skin safety, and real protection against reinjury, KB Tape® is manufactured to be the smarter choice.
Morning feels decent. By lunch, you reach a little too far and get the sharp zap. By night, the area is angry again. The fix is simple: support the exact spot that bites, so you can move through the day with fewer setbacks. That is why our first-line method is the X or T pattern directly over the pain point. It is fast, and it works.
Your skin is connected to what is under it.
If you limit the skin's movement, you limit the movement of the underlying, injured tissue.
The tape stretches along its length but is rigid along its width.
When you cross two pieces over each other, the area of overlap is rigid in both directions.
You get protection where you cross the second strip to form an X or T right over the sore point.
Under that crossover, the skin is no longer stretchy, which limits how much the injured tissue beneath it can glide or tug.
Outside the crossover, the tape still stretches so you can move normally.
That is how a thin, breathable tape becomes real-world support.
Some companies market bands, sleeves, and wraps that squeeze your joint constantly. That kind of circumferential compression may sound supportive, but when you are active it can actually do harm. Squeezing tendons and ligaments together as they move only increases tissue-on-tissue friction, making it easier to re-injure the very structures you are trying to heal.
Yes, gentle compression has a place -- but only when you are at rest. Short, 15-30 minute sessions of snug wrapping can help swelling settle and fluid move back into the joint. That is not the same as wearing a tight elastic sleeve all day long. Continuous pressure during work, walking, or sport is more likely to delay healing than to speed it.
That is why our taping protocol avoids "wrapping" joints. We recommend simple X or T patterns directly over the tender spot. This approach does not rely on compression. Instead, it provides localized support for the injured tissue, reducing motion at the exact site that keeps flaring up while allowing the rest of your joint to move normally.
The tape comes in two different widths, 2 inch and 3 inch.
Use 2 in width for smaller areas like wrist or foot, and 3 in for larger areas like shoulder, thigh, or back, or if you have a larger frame.
Choose pre-cut strips if you want fast, repeatable applications, or the continuous roll if you like to custom-cut lengths and shapes.
For many applications the 8 inch strip is perfect one direction. And cutting an 8 inch strip in half is perfect for the crossover piece.
Use a comfortably snug wrap at rest to help manage swelling. Avoid tight, circumferential compression during strenuous activity, which can increase tissue-on-tissue friction. During active hours, think support and protection first; when you are quieter, a bit of snugness can help swelling settle.
Taping can be a little tricky the very first time you do it.
After one or two times though you'll become an expert.
A handy tip is to not remove the backing off the full piece of tape before you put it on.
Click on either item to see it in our shop.
King Brand has a variety of other products to assist with the treatment of soft tissue injuries anywhere in the body.
Browse our site using the links at the bottom of the page or through our complete menu at the very top left of the page.
There is a lot of valuable information that can help you heal your condition.
Many products are far more advanced than simply protecting the injury with tape.
If you want to accelerate the healing of your soft tissue injury and receive maximum pain and swelling relief, check out King Brand® BFST® and ColdCure® Wraps. These are FDA Registered medical devices that are designed to prevent, treat and accelerate recovery of soft tissue injuries.
You do not need to remove KB Tape® for ColdCure® treatments. For BFST®, plan your first treatment before taping and your last after removing the tape. You can treat through the tape during the day if needed, knowing a small amount of effectiveness is reduced where the tape sits.
Tell us where it hurts and how it flares. We will help you choose the width and show you a first pattern to try.
Call us toll free at 1-844-672-9440. A King Brand® Advisor will help you get it right the first time.
King Brand® soft tissue rehabilitation products are FDA Registered medical devices. We are ISO 13485 compliant and use ISO 10993 tested materials for biocompatibility. All King Brand® products include a 100% satisfaction policy.
While KB Tape is excellent to provide armor for your injury, we have other products that are designed to help the underlying injury heal.
Cold reduces swelling, but blood flow drives repair. Clinical studies show that specialized stimulation can increase localized blood flow by nearly 400%.7x
The Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy® (BFST®) device uses our patented Energy Web® to bring specially controlled EMR energy to your injury.
This deep penetrating energy works to increase blood flow in the injured area, creating an ideal environment for healing.12x
This is not a typical heating pad.
Heating pads have very little therapeutic value because they only heat the surface of the skin.
That does nothing to heal the damaged tissues deep below the dermal (fat and skin) layer.
BFST® stimulates blood flow from within, accelerating the healing process.
Normal heating pads can't do this.
The medical term for it is "diathermy".
Most people are familiar with a kind of diathermy known as ultrasound that physical therapy clinics use for treating injuries.
While Ultrasound requires a skilled technician, BFST allows people to give themselves diathermic treatments at home.
There is a lot of engineering and R&D behind BFST®.
You can't find this technology anywhere else.
The innovation of BFST® allows you to both rest your injury and receive the high quality blood flow your injury needs to heal.
Physical activity increases blood flow, which is good, but when you have a soft tissue injury, you need to avoid too much physical activity because this can lead to re-injury.
Though rest is required for the body to heal itself, blood flow is impaired when the body isn't moving enough.
BFST® is the only solution to healing your injury with the benefits of both rest and blood flow.
Use BFST® while at rest to promote blood flow in the area of your injury.
This nutrient-rich, oxygenated blood will work to speed up the healing process and help your body repair the damaged tissue.12x
No other product on the market can do what the BFST® does.
