WWE.com is featuring a story explaining the “intricate web of athletic tap” worn by John Cena on Raw this past Monday night.
The answer? SpiderTech, a type of athletic adhesive known as Kinesio Tape.
Developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase, Kinesio Tape is a groundbreaking recovery method to help athletes recuperate from major injuries, and has been “breaking new ground” in the field of sports medicine for the last 25 years, according to its official website. Kinesio Tape is prevalent among noteworthy athletes besides Cena including David Beckham, Italian striker Mario Balotelli and several Olympians in the 2012 Summer Games like Trey Hardee, a U.S. silver medalist in the decathlon, and various volleyball players.
The application (and purpose) of the tape is fairly complicated, but Chris Arrigo, the owner of Advanced Rehabilitation in South Tampa, Fla., and Cena’s physical therapist (he helped Cena recuperate from his pectoral tear in 2007), explained the function of the tape to WWE.com.
“It basically does 2 or 3 main things,” he said. “It helps reduce pain … eliminate swelling under the skin and helps support the muscles and joints for improved, pain-free movement. The tape lifts the skin to promote the flow of lymphatic fluid, which helps reduce associated swelling.”
Arrigo is optimistic in terms of the process thus far. “John’s rehab is going well,” Arrigo said. “He is improving slowly but steadily and progressing as expected following the surgery that he had.”