Kinesiology tape has begun making the rounds at local gyms and health clubs.
First developed by Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase within the 1970s, they only exploded in recognition once fifty thousand rolls had been donated to American athletes at the Beijing Summer Games.
High-profile names including Lance Armstrong, Serena Williams, and Kerri Walsh have competed in them or frequently use them as a part of their training regimens, so is it any wonder that recreational fitness buffs should now follow suit?
Absolutely not, but kinesiology tape is not some sort of magical talisman, either.
Proper technique is still key to remaining injury-free, as are adequate rest and sound diet.
Indeed, recreational non-competitive athletes may mistake what could be a useful tool for some sort of a magical competitive edge.
Worse still, they may use the tape inaccurately and cause problems where none existed!
No piece of exercise equipment can swap for hard work intelligently performed, and while kinesiology tape could have a spot in a relaxation or rehabilitation protocol, their widespread use as simple bandages wrapped around a joint could well be problematic.
Though intended to support such joints, restricting their movement or otherwise trying to alter it could easily result in injury.
Even expert application might not be enough, though almost certainly they should be used under the supervision of a specialist (or under professional advice and direction, even if only through such means as magazine articles).
And indeed, experts disagree on the matter of joint support: many powerlifters who train mostly for fitness, as an example, often avoid the use of belts which will help them lift more on the grounds that they do not wish for their back muscles to become weak from being accustomed to such support.
Ultimately, it is best to utilize tape for the purposes it is designed, which are mainly therapeutic, not ergogenic, in nature.
