Rigid strapping tapes help manage some limb injuries. While these specialist tapes can be extremely effective, they can give you some trouble if you have sensitive skin or if you have to wear them for a long time. You might not be able to tolerate wearing rigid strapping for as long as you should, so you might not get all of its healing benefits.
To make things easier, you can use a sensitive sports tape under the strapping as an undertape. What are the advantages of doing this?
Avoid Allergic Reactions
Rigid strapping tapes use heavy-duty adhesives. They need to provide a firm connection and hold on your skin to do their jobs.
If you are allergic to these adhesives, or if your skin is simply a little sensitive, then you won't find it easy to keep the strapping on. You might get a rash or your skin might feel uncomfortable or itchy. You don't need this extra stress during your healing process.
If you use a sensitive sports tape under highly-adhesive rigid strapping as an undertape, then you shouldn't have these problems. You put the sports tape on before the rigid strapping is applied.
This undertape protects your skin from direct contact with the rigid wrap and its adhesive. Its adhesive is hypoallergenic, so your skin shouldn't react to it. You'll feel more comfortable.
Avoid Friction Problems
Even if your skin isn't too sensitive or you don't have allergies to regular strap adhesives, rigid strapping can do some skin damage. This strapping is sticky all over. It has to grip all the skin it covers tightly enough to create the compression and pressure that will help your injury heal.
If you have to wear rigid strapping for a while, then you can suffer from friction problems. The strapping can rub on your skin as you move. Your skin could get sore, bruised and even broken if the strapping rubs on it too much.
If you use a sensitive sports tape as an underwrap, then you reduce these friction problems. The rigid strapping won't rub on your skin — the underwrap acts as a buffer.
However, it won't affect the way your rigid strapping works. In fact, it could even make it more effective. Rigid strapping often sticks better to an underlying layer of tape than to your skin. This extra layer also allows your skin to breathe. So your strapping should stay in place for longer, and you'll be able to wear it for as long as it takes to heal your injury.
To find out more, take a look at sensitive sports tape products.