With so many medicinal benefits, cannabidiol (CBD) is being added to everything from water to clothes, and even pillows. Although the science behind the benefits of CBD is sound, the science of it being effective when added to things like clothing makes these sorts of CBD applications questionable. One CBD application method is being marketed to athletes, and it’s CBD-infused athletic tape. Let’s take a look at the facts.
As an athlete and certified personal trainer, I’m very familiar with athletic tape, also known as kinesiology tape. Athletic tape is known to improve blood circulation, stimulate the lymphatic system, and support muscles with the goal of improving injury recovery or preventing injuries. It decreases pain by reducing inflammation, and by keeping pulled or sore muscles in place when active. For these reasons, it’s very common in locker rooms of all sports.
CBD is also known to decrease pain and reduce inflammation, which is what makes it popular among athletes as well. It would make sense that combining CBD with athletic tape should result in a pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory combo. However, there is currently no scientific research that supports the effectiveness of CBD when infused with athletic tape. Without having any definitive proof, I’m wary to suggest CBD athletic tape works, but there are still several different brands on the market that are selling some sort of CBD athletic tape. Some of them even have high reviews from consumers, but the relief they’re feeling could just be from the benefits of using athletic tape itself, and not necessarily the CBD.
With that being said, I’ve also never tried CBD athletic tape myself, but as a personal trainer who advises clients, I’m all about the science of athletic performance and recovery. Until there is definitive research specifically on the effectiveness of CBD administered through athletic tape, I can’t say with certainty that it works. I do recommend giving athletic tape a try, and if you happen to choose one infused with CBD, that’s perfectly fine.
