ChaoHaoWan Combines Traditional Chinese Medicine with Kinesiology Tape to Innovate Sports Protection Products

For individuals with long-term exposure to sports, kinesiology tape (also known as elastic therapeutic tape) is certainly no stranger. Originating in Japan during the last century, kinesiology tape emerged as a derivative of athletic taping techniques. It subsequently experienced rapid development in European and American markets, where it became widely used for sports health maintenance and injury prevention. Unlike ordinary non-elastic tapes, the elasticity of kinesiology tape helps enhance joint range of motion, and its tension can be adjusted according to the user’s needs.

A substantial number of cases have demonstrated that kinesiology tape can alleviate pain in the event of acute injury, enabling patients to engage in more extensive rehabilitation training and thereby accelerate the recovery of physical function.

Since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, kinesiology tape has gained widespread popularity in China. Alongside the development of the sports industry, the number of participants in both professional and amateur competitions has continued to rise, equipment configurations have been constantly upgraded, and the use of kinesiology tape has become increasingly prevalent. In just over a decade, numerous brands have emerged on the market, with continuous improvements and innovations in kinesiology tape products.

At the “2021 ‘Maker Guangdong’ Biopharmaceutical SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition” hosted by Guangdong Medical Valley, the Chao Haowan team competed against numerous high-quality innovative projects with its novel sports patch that integrates traditional Chinese medicine concepts.

According to the data from the "2021 Edition of the Analysis Report on Development Trends and Sales Channels of the Global and Chinese Kinesiology Tape Market," China's kinesiology tape market has undergone rapid changes in recent years. In 2019, its market size accounted for approximately 10% of the global market, and China is also one of the major production bases for kinesiology tape worldwide. Driven by the growing consumer demand for sports protection products resulting from the development of China's sports industry, the Chinese sports tape market continues to expand steadily.

Generally, conventional kinesiology tape possesses no pharmacological properties and functions solely as a physical therapy aid, acting on injuries through mechanical rather than pharmacological mechanisms. In contrast, the novel kinesiology tape developed by the Chao Haowan team integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technologies. Tailored to diverse usage scenarios, their product line is designed for specific groups such as esports players, sports enthusiasts, and office professionals. These tapes provide protection for muscle and soft tissues, alleviate pain, promote blood circulation, and reduce muscle congestion.

The decision to combine kinesiology tape with traditional Chinese medicine is linked to Chen Chaoxin, founder of the trendy and fun project “Chao Hao Wan,” and his personal exposure to pharmaceuticals.

Born in a centuries-old town in the Chaoshan region, Chen Chaoxin had extensive exposure to Chinese herbal medicine from an early age. Influenced by this upbringing, he majored in pharmacy during his university years. A study-abroad experience later made him realize the surging popularity of Kampo (traditional Chinese herbal) medicine in Taiwan, planting the seed for his future entrepreneurial venture.

During his academic years, Chen Chaoxin completed over 60 projects involving innovation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), prescription analysis, and technical improvements, thereby accumulating extensive expertise in key aspects of TCM innovative technologies. Furthermore, Mr. Chen previously worked at the Evaluation and Certification Center of the Guangdong Food and Drug Administration, as well as at Guangdong New South Group’s Guangdong New South Qinghao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Leveraging this wealth of experience in both technology and practical operations, Mr. Chen ultimately decided to focus on the research and development of innovative products in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.

Leveraging the human resources and academic expertise of Guangdong Food and Drug Vocational College and the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Garden, Chaohaowan has assembled a dynamic and innovative team comprising professionals in sales, marketing, design, product development, and new media. The company develops consumer health products based on the modern application of classical TCM formulas, positioning itself as an innovator of traditional Chinese herbal plasters for the youth market, with novel sports patches offering fresh user experiences as its core offering.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plasters are one of the five major dosage forms in TCM. They exert therapeutic effects through transdermal absorption and the meridian pathways. Although they are convenient to use and act rapidly, some plasters suffer from poor adhesion and cannot be worn for extended periods, which to some extent compromises their therapeutic efficacy.

Kinesiology tape itself possesses strong adhesiveness, allowing it to remain adhered to the skin for dozens of hours without detaching. Its thickness and breathability are similar to those of human skin, and it features excellent elasticity and sustained natural resilience, enabling it to move freely with the skin. However, it does not contain any medication. Therefore, by combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plasters with kinesiology tape, it is possible to design TCM-based health products with superior performance.

In terms of product R&D, the Chaohaowan team leverages modern techniques to purify more than ten types of natural herbs. By replacing traditional plasters with a hydrogel drug-delivery layer and integrating sports tape materials, the product offers breathability, waterproofing, infection barrier, and cushioning against secondary injuries. Additionally, the product employs a screw-in stretching technology that not only increases the surface area of the sports tape but also adapts to joint flexion and extension, ensuring it remains securely in place.

According to existing experimental data, the novel sports patch developed by the Chaohaowan team takes effect within 5 minutes of application, maintains efficacy for 6 hours, and has a low allergy rate, causing no adverse reactions even with prolonged skin adhesion.

At this stage, in addition to novel sports tapes, the Chaohaowan team is focusing on youth-oriented and personalized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health products, and has initiated the research and development of hemostatic patches, rheumatism patches, uterine-warming patches, and rhinitis patches. To ensure the successful development and commercialization of these products, the Chaohaowan team has established three major technical platforms covering key experimental techniques, preparation processes, and quality standards. Meanwhile, through industry-university-research collaborations with universities, the team is well-positioned to support rapid product iteration and upgrades.

As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health product primarily targeting young consumers, the selection of marketing strategies is clearly key to gaining initial market traction. In terms of marketing, the Chao Haowan team will leverage an extensive new media matrix to expand its influence and promote the product through popular science education on TCM knowledge, while also implementing precision marketing tailored to its target customer base. Furthermore, the Chao Haowan team will continuously optimize the product to enable customization, thereby meeting the diverse needs of more consumers.

Moving forward, the Chao Haowan team will take the development of novel sports tapes as its starting point to continuously launch functional products designed to alleviate muscular discomfort. Meanwhile, it will strengthen collaboration with university research teams and integrate traditional Chinese medicine formulations into the development of targeted solutions, with the aim of benefiting a broader population.

In this process, the Chao Haowan team also hopes to maintain cooperation and engagement with investors to jointly drive more innovative products to market.

The 2021 “Maker Guangdong” Biopharmaceutical SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was guided by the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province, the Department of Finance of Guangdong Province, and the People’s Government of Dongguan City, and hosted by Guangdong Medical Valley. Since undertaking the competition, it has focused on the biopharmaceutical sector, identifying high-quality projects related to COVID-19 prevention and control as well as health protection. To date, nearly 200 projects have been identified, with many recommended projects winning major awards in the provincial finals. Guangdong Medical Valley was honored as the “Best Organizing Unit of 2020.”

Guangdong Medical Valley, established in 2014, is a new healthcare industry cluster service provider under the Zhongchuang Group. It focuses on investment and incubation platforms for the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. With a presence in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and other locations, it has completed and is constructing industrial parks with a total area of approximately 530,000 square meters. It is recognized as a National-Level Technology Business Incubator, a Key Construction Project of Guangdong Province, and a Demonstration Park of Guangzhou City. Adhering to the philosophy that “industry clusters are the most critical driver for innovative development in the healthcare industry,” Guangdong Medical Valley maintains an integrated development model combining healthcare incubation, equity investment in healthcare projects, and comprehensive supporting services for the healthcare industry. Deeply rooted in the Greater Bay Area, it is committed to building a world-class international healthcare innovation center.