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Tape on Biceps?

Original Post
Gilles · · Arcata,CA · Joined May 2009 · Points: 60

So today at the gym I noticed some of the usual no shirted, beanie and skinny jeans gym rats sending their V21 projects, nothing out of the ordinary, but this one guy had taped his bicep with athletic tape. What is that for? Is this guy an idiot or should I start wrapping my bicep with tape...maybe I'll send V21 plastic this way...YES!!!!

bevans · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 0

Reasons for tape may be either injury prevention or recovery. KT tape or some variety of standard athletic tape applications can be used for this.

edited for conciseness...

Gilles · · Arcata,CA · Joined May 2009 · Points: 60

oh I see, cause recovery days are for pansies, so its better to tape over whatever part of your body hurts and send that project before someone removes the route. I'm not a doctor or physical therapist, but I'm pretty sure taping a bicep is not going to prevent any injuries, especially over a muscle that contracts as much as biceps and triceps do, but then again I could be wrong.

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241

That whole RICE thing, eh?

The OP may have to look for another angle to strike at his beanie wearing enemies.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

You know how football players are taping up their biceps just above the elbow? The only reason for that is to increase the swell effect, making them look bigger. No other function than making your biceps swell. That might be an explanation here. I figured it's just a matter of time, after all young males are all just roosters anyway.

RockinOut · · NY, NY · Joined May 2010 · Points: 100
Mike Lane wrote:You know how football players are taping up their biceps just above the elbow? The only reason for that is to increase the swell effect, making them look bigger. No other function than making your biceps swell. That might be an explanation here. I figured it's just a matter of time, after all young males are all just roosters anyway.
Or the tape just above the elbow relieves pressure on the tendons from the tricep and bicep.... its a way to relieve the pain of tendonitis/ allow you to climb through it. hahaha swell effect? Chances are his elbow is hurting from tendonitis
Ty Morrison-Heath · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 2,053

Was it near his elbow? He very possibly could have elbow tendinitis and is taping for that.

goatdavemac Mac · · Flat Rock, NC · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 20

The "tape" on football players biceps are actually sweat bands, some remove some of the fabric some don't, the Steelers have a giant bucket of them in the locker room for that purpose...great article about fashion in the NFL in the NY times a few weeks ago...

Peter Franzen · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,730

I have always believed that taping large muscles for support is an exercise in futility. You can't tape enough to provide stability without severely restricting range of motion or muscle function.

Crag Dweller · · New York, NY · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125
Peter Franzen wrote:I have always believed that taping large muscles for support is an exercise in futility. You can't tape enough to provide stability without severely restricting range of motion or muscle function.
+1

And, I've been told that taping to support muscles is actually detrimental in the long run. The tape creates artificial support rather than strengthening muscles/ligaments to provide the support naturally. It's kind of like wearing an old school weightlifters belt to do squats.

Sure, it'll provide core support so that you can lift more while wearing it. But, development of the other muscle groups will outpace that of your core, setting you up for future injury.
B Owens · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 60
goatdavemac wrote:The "tape" on football players biceps are actually sweat bands, some remove some of the fabric some don't, the Steelers have a giant bucket of them in the locker room for that purpose...great article about fashion in the NFL in the NY times a few weeks ago...
Also to guard against friction on the turf/dirt. That's a high wear area.
drmandler · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 5

Taping a muscle in one spot can change the distribution of forces on the tendon insertion which can give some mild relief to an overused joint :)

germsauce Epstein · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 55

If the tape was just above the elbow, kind of below the bulge of the bicep, then i'd wager it was for moderate tendonitis. I've been shown this trick before and it seems to work pretty darn well, for reasons completely unknown to me, .

basically, you flex your arm a bit, tape firmly but not tight so that the tape runs around the upper arm, very close to, but above the crook of the elbow. It also helps to wear skinny jeans and beanies.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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