Taping History |
Dr. Virgil Gibney |
In 1888, Dr. Virgil Gibney read a book by an Englishman that recommended strapping injured ankles with rubber adhesive plaster. Rubber adhesive plaster was a cloth with adhesive placed on it (we would call it tape). In 1893, he published an article outlining his technique and the success he had using it. His "Gibney Basketweave" would remain a mainstay of ankle taping and be adapted to tape other parts of the body.
Rubber adhesive plaster had the drawback of being highly irritating. Johnson & Johnson began experimenting with different adhesives. In 1899, they introduced their new zinc oxide based adhesive plasters (tape) in their "ZO" and "Zonas" products. Modern athletic tape was born.
"ZO" Adhesive Plaster
"Zonas" Adhesive Plaster
|