Application of kinesiology tape bandage

1. A bandage system comprising a bandage and a massage tool;

the bandage comprising:

a piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric;

a stretchable dressing attached to a first side of the fabric; and

pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to at least some of an exposed area of the first side of the fabric; and

the massage tool adapted to activate the pressure sensitive adhesive of the bandage and massage a portion of a human body when the bandage is applied to the portion of a human body and rubbed with the massage tool;

wherein the piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric is stretchable to a total stretched dimension of at least 150% of a first unstretched dimension of the fabric in a first direction, and stretchable to a total stretched dimension of no more than 110% of a second unstretched dimension of the fabric in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

2. The bandage system of claim 1 , further comprising a water-proof layer between the fabric and the dressing.

3. The bandage system of claim 2 , wherein the water proof layer is also virus-proof and bacteria-proof.

4. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein the piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric is stretchable to at least 180% of the first unstretched dimension of the fabric in the first direction.

5. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein an unstretched length of the piece of fabric is greater than four times an unstretched width of the piece of fabric.

6. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable dressing is stretchable in at least one direction by at least as great a percentage as the anisotropically stretchable woven fabric in its stretchable direction, and the stretchable dressing comprises gauze or a foam material.

7. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable dressing comprises a porous, non-stick, stretchable membrane covering an absorbent filling comprising at least one of acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, cotton fibers, or vicose fibers.

8. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein the stretchable dressing is anisotropically stretchable, and a stretchable direction of the stretchable dressing is aligned with a stretchable direction of the fabric.

9. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied in a wave pattern to at least some of the exposed area of the first side of the fabric.

10. The bandage system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied over a large enough portion of the exposed area of the first side of the fabric to adhere the bandage to skin of a human subject.

11. A method of applying an anisotropically stretchable bandage to a body, the method comprising:

stretching the anisotropically stretchable bandage to at least 125% of its unstretched length;

positioning a dressing of the bandage over a wound on the body; and

pressing the stretched bandage against the body to activate a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the bandage and adhere the stretched bandage to the body;

the anisotropically stretchable bandage comprising:

a piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric;

a stretchable dressing attached to a first side of the fabric which comprises the dressing; and

the pressure-sensitive adhesive which is applied to at least some of an exposed area of the first side of the fabric;

wherein the piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric is stretchable to a total stretched dimension of at least 150% of a first unstretched dimension of the fabric in a first direction, the length of the piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric being in the first direction, and stretchable to a total stretched dimension of no more than 110% of a second unstretched dimension of the fabric in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a width of the piece of anisotropically stretchable woven fabric being in the second direction.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying a portion of the body near the wound for treatment with kinesiology tape; and

applying the bandage to provide treatment to the identified portion of the body.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the applying the bandage comprises:

positioning one end of the bandage at the origin of a muscle in the identified portion of the body; and

positioning an opposite end of the bandage at the insertion point of the muscle.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein a muscle in the identified portion of the body has an injury.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

rubbing at least some portion of the bandage with a massage tool to help activate the pressure sensitive adhesive and to massage a portion of the body covered by the bandage.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stretching comprises stretching the anisotropically stretchable bandage to between 130% and 150% of its unstretched length.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied over a large enough portion of the exposed area of the first side of the fabric to adhere the bandage to skin of a human subject.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is adapted to be activated to stick to human skin by rubbing the bandage with a massage tool after the bandage is applied to a human subject.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying the stretched bandage to the body without overlapping the bandage on itself.