Leukotape is a sticky medical tape utilized by hikers and backpackers to stop blisters earlier than they happen. It’s breathable and can keep on even when it will get moist, so it will possibly keep in your toes for as much as every week at a time. It is available in two types: Leukotape P and Leukotape Ok. Each sorts have an abrasion-resistant material exterior and a powerful adhesive to maintain them in your pores and skin regardless of friction, perspiration, or getting moist, which makes them ideally fitted to use in outside actions.
Leukotape P
Leukotape P is the higher of the 2 for blister prevention as a result of it’s a inflexible tape that doesn’t stretch the pores and skin that it’s connected to. Blisters happen when the higher layers of your pores and skin are stretched aside, forming a void between the layers that fills with fluid, inflicting a blister. However when you cowl the locations the place you usually get sizzling spots or blisters upfront with the tape, the friction that causes a blister is absorbed by the tape’s material exterior as an alternative of your pores and skin which has been immobilized by the tape, stopping blister formation. Easy.
Though Leukotape P is sticky, it’s fairly simple to tug off by hand and gained’t tear wholesome pores and skin off if you take away it. It would additionally keep on for as much as every week at a time which makes it good for backpacking because it requires so little upkeep. It does include pure rubber, nevertheless, so individuals allergic to latex or rubber mustn’t use it.
Leukotape P is bought in 1-and-a-1/2-inch broad rolls, that are inconvenient to hold when backpacking. When you can tear items off a roll by hand, it’s extra handy to pre-cut strips of it at house as a result of they are often carried flat in your first help package. That is achieved by unrolling the tape onto what known as launch paper, which is the shiny paper that adhesive mailing labels and stamps are caught to (wax paper doesn’t work.) Go into any UPS or Fedex retailer and so they’ll provide you with piles of launch paper without cost.
Leukotape Ok
Leukotape Ok can also be a sticky medical tape, however it has built-in stretch, just like kinesiology tape, though it’s a lot stickier and lasts longer, as much as every week. A stretchy tape is dangerous for blister prevention as a result of your pores and skin can transfer beneath it. This may end up in what known as pores and skin sheer, the place layers of pores and skin separate and fill with fluid, inflicting a blister. As an alternative, Luekotape Ok is to supply gentle tissue help and in situ therapeutic massage with out retarding your vary of movement. It’s generally used to deal with tendinitis, low again ache, tennis elbow, and rigidity complications.
Not like Leukotape P, Luekotape Ok tape is accessible in a number of widths: 1″, 2″, and three″; and a number of colours. Whereas it’s also packaged as a roll, the tape has a launch paper backer that makes it simple to stretch the tape when it’s utilized, the identical manner as KT tape is utilized. It’s also not made with rubber or latex, making it allergy free.
When minimize, the sides of Leukotape Ok additionally tend to fray additionally the edges and ends, though the primary portion of the tape will stay intact. This happens as a result of the weave of the outside cloth is far looser to facilitate its stretchiness.
Abstract
Relating to mountain climbing hotspot and blister prevention, Leukotape P is most well-liked over Leukotape Ok as a result of it’s inflexible and doesn’t let the underlying pores and skin transfer towards itself, which is the main reason behind blister formation. The most effective time to use Leukotape P is the day earlier than a day hike in order that physique warmth may also help activate the adhesive and make it persist with your toes higher. As soon as utilized, it can stay in your pores and skin for as much as every week even when it will get repeatedly moist, making it ideally suited for multi-day backpacking journeys as a result of it doesn’t should be reapplied every single day. It does nonetheless pay to pre-cut strips of Leuktotape P upfront to allow them to be carried flat in your first-aid package if you don’t really feel like carrying your entire roll with you. Whereas it’s normally avoidable, the adhesive in Leukotape might gum up your socks in sure circumstances however may be eliminated with medical adhesive remover.
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