How to Tear Athletic Tape
Athletic tape provides many uses, including protection and safety for an athlete. Athletic tape is supportive, lightweight and conforms to the body. It can be quickly removed when there is an injury. When pressure is applied along the edge, athletic tape should tear evenly and easily.
Athletic tape is very good at sticking to itself. It is a cotton-based adhesive material that will stick to almost anything as long as the surface is not wet. It will take a lot of beating before falling off. Tearing athletic tape is easy once you know the technique. If not done correctly, the result will be a mess as well as a waste of tape. Athletic tape should be a zinc oxide to be able to be ripped. If you are using an elastic adhesive bandage (EAB) tape, it must be cut with scissors.
To tear athletic tape properly, do the following:
- Keep the tape taut to prevent it from sticking to itself.
- Get at the length of tape where it needs to be ripped.
- Put your thumbs next to each other on one side of the tape.
- Put you index fingers next to your thumbs, on the opposite side of the tape.
- Press your fingers tightly against the tape.
- Use your right hand to push the tape away from you, while using your left hand to pull it towards you.
- Continue this action until the tape separates. Do this quickly to avoid distortion and stretching of the tape.