SpiderTech and Psychological Pain Management

Here is a brief video that I shot in Kona, HI with our Wattie Ink. Elite Team sponsor SpiderTech Tape. It briefly discusses the psychological benefits of using SpiderTech Kinesio Tape.

What is SpiderTech?

“SpiderTech tape is a non-medicated cotton kinesiology tape that you apply to your body wherever it hurts. SpiderTech is the first to provide convenient, standardized and easy to use Pre-Cut Kinesiology Tape Applications, called “Spiders”. The use of SpiderTech™ kinesiology tape applications results in a simple and effective approach to support strained muscles and joints and prevent further injury…” (source SpiderTech website)

From a psychological perspective:

Research indicates that the psychological aspects of pain perception, and specifically gate control theory, illustrate that the amount of pain experienced by a person is related to the amount of attention and focus given to the area of pain. The more focus and attention that is given to the area in pain, the more the “gates” in the spinal cord open up and send increased pain signals to the brain that the brain interprets as severity or intensity of pain. It is well researched that “psychological factors, such as the situational and emotional factors that exist when we experience pain, can profoundly alter the strength of these (pain) perceptions.” In other words, the more you notice or focus on your pain, the more pain you experience.

Using SpiderTech provides you the mental comfort that your pain is being managed and is contributing to further pain prevention. While SpiderTech tape has proven physiological and clinical benefits, it also psychologically serves as a method of pain distraction, i.e. pay less attention to the pain. This is evidenced by psychological pain management studies which indicate that, “mental control techniques that rely on the ability of the mind and emotions to control and alleviate pain through descending neural pathways. They include relaxation techniques, hypnosis, biofeedback and distraction techniques.”

For example:

Athlete applies SpiderTech tape to area of pain-> pain relief->paying less attention to affected area->fewer pain signals being sent to brain->lower severity of experience of pain =athletic performance less impaired by injury, if at all.

Athlete’s I encourage you to explore and utilize the many effective, and non-medicinal, forms of pain management. Take a moment and check out SpiderTech’s website to educate yourself on the benefits of using tape, but also to support a company that is athlete focused.

On that note, SpiderTech is not just about the tape, it’s a company that fully supports its athlete’s dreams and goals. While in Kona, Hawaii for the Ironman World Championships SpiderTech hosted a breakfast for our Wattie Ink. Elite Triathlon Team. SpiderTech took the time to teach and empower us on the proper applications of the pre-cut taping strips and it’s benefits for keeping our bodies healthy and injury free. Thank you SpiderTech!