An Insider's Guide to getting KT Taped at a race

If you've ever stopped by the KT Tape booth at a marathon, triathlon, or other sports event you know the line to be taped can take well over an hour. We recently spoke with KT Tape expert Joseph McCaleb, PT about what people could do to come prepared to the expo to get taped so we can take care of them as quickly as possible. Joe has staffed 14 races in the past year so he was able to provide some quick answers that will make your next taping experience even better. 1. What to wear. Be prepared by wearing clothing which will allow easy access to your area you need taped. For example, if you need to have your knee or IT band taped, you need to wear shorts. As you can see from the picture, the tape will come up in the mid thigh area for most people and no matter how hard you try those stretchy jeans just DON'T pull up far enough. Gals that want to have their backs or shoulders taped should wear sports bras. However, it's far easier to apply the back and shoulder applications at home by a trusted person without the clothing getting in the way. 2. Skin Prep. Make sure your skin is clean, dry and that you have no lotions or oils of any type as the tape will not stick if you have lotion on. It is preferable that you shower the morning of the expo to make sure the lotion you applied yesterday is completely cleaned from the skin. Guys- if you have a lot of hair in the area you want taped you probably need to shave before being taped. The tape is designed to stick directly to the skin. If you have excessive hair that prevents the tape from getting a good grip on the skin, the tape won't stay on properly. If you need a shave we will happily do it for you, but it's much faster if you come to the expo already preped with soft and supple skin. One last thing. We try to keep things 'family friendly' at the expos as much as possible. There are a few apps that you're on your own to apply such as hip flexor or glute pain. We're sure you understand. 3. How much does it cost? How does a taping session work? Taping at the expos is free. We consider it a service to the athletes and we don't charge at the events. We will ask questions to try and identify the best application but in most cases the KT Tape staff are not medical professionals and are not diagnosing the condition or trying to determine root cause. We are simply addressing the immediate pain. If you have questions about your specific condition you should see a licensed professional. You can also post a question on our Ask an Expert forum. Have you been taped at an event before? Leave a comment and let us know if you have any other tips. Thx To find out if KT Tape will be at your next event check here.