33701091 sports medicine specialists taping techniques

OBJECTIVES: ? Support the Achilles Tendon with Elastic Reinforcement Assisting Plantar Flexion, ? Prevent Full Stretch of the Musculo-tendinous Unit by Restricting Full Dorsiflexion, ? Limit Inversion Significantly when Heel Lock is used, and ? Permit Full Plantar Flexion and Eversion.

Taping for Achilles Tendon Injury

Clean and prepare the area by shaving if excessive hair is present. Spray the area with skin toughener (Tuf-Skin®, STA®, etc.). The foot should be positioned in approximately 45° of plantarflexion.

Apply pre-wrap to area to be taped. Apply lubricated heel and lace pads to prevent blisters and tape cuts over the Achilles tendon and Tibialias Anterior tendon.

Apply two elastic anchor strips at the heads of the metatarsals. Remember, the anchor strips should be applied directly to the skin.

Apply elastic anchor strips to the calf region. Remember, the anchor strips should be applied directly to the skin.

Apply the first vertical strip, using 3” elastic tape, beginning from the center of the mid-foot anchors, pulling proximally to the calf anchors.

Repeat the previous step passing just laterally to the center of back of heel.

Repeat again, passing just medially to the center of back of heel. (Pictures continued on next page.)

David Edell, LAT, ATC, CSCS

Cellular: 713.858.3802 • Fax: 281.341.3012 • E-Mail: [email protected]

The Sports Medicine Specialists RSH Physical Therapy 1601 Main Street # 602 Richmond, TX 77469 281.341.2874

Houston Orthopædics & Sports Medicine 1601 Main Street # 601 Richmond, TX 77469 281.565.8800

Polly Ryon Hospital 1705 Jackson Street Richmond, TX 77469 281.341.3000

Close the tape job by applying elastic anchor strips to the leg. Fill in any open areas to avoid blisters and pinching of skin. The end of the elastic closures should be secured with white tape. Test tape for adequate restriction of motion and ensure that tape on mid-foot is not too tight.

Achilles Tape pg. 2

A lateral ankle lock may be applied to offer more stability. Begin on the medial side of the upper anchor, wind the tape around behind the Achilles tendon to catch the heel from the medial side. Lock the heel and pull the tape up with strong tension on the lateral side before affixing it to the upper anchors.

OBJECTIVES: ? Offer Lateral Stability with Specific Reinforcement, ? Prevent Inversion, ? Restrict End-Range Plantar Flexion and Some Eversion, and ? Allow Almost Full Dorsiflexion and Functional Plantar Flexion

Taping for Lateral Ankle Sprain

Clean and prepare the area by shaving if excessive hair is present. Spray the area with skin toughener (Tuf-Skin®, STA®, etc.). The ankle should be in a neutral position (approximately 0° of dorsiflexion). Apply lubricated heel and lace pads to prevent blisters and tape cuts over the Achilles tendon and Tibialias Anterior tendon. Apply pre-wrap to area to be taped.

To control swelling, a felt “J” horseshoe can be cut and placed over the lateral malleolus. Attach felt “J” pad, if desired, with pre-wrap. Apply anchor strips of 1½” tape at base of calf and mid-foot. These anchor strips must be in direct contact with the skin to ensure support. The anchor strips on the mid-foot should be applied with light tension. Be careful to not tape directly over the head of the 5th metatarsal.






Ankle Tape pg. 2

Apply a stirrup of 1½” tape staring from the calf anchor strips on the medial side around the bottom of the foot to the lateral side of the anchor strips. This strip should pass over the distal edge of the medial and lateral malleolus. Pull up strongly to apply specific tension over the later side of the ankle. Starting on the medial side of the mid-foot anchor, apply a horizontal horseshoe, passing behind the heel and covering the tip of the lateral malleolus. Put extra tension on the lateral side before reattaching the tape to the mid-foot anchor on the lateral side. Repeat previous steps twice, over lapping the tape anteriorly by ½.

Apply the first lateral heel lock: begin on the anterior shin passing diagonally down to the lateral aspect of the ankle. Continue behind the Achilles tendon, around and under the heel. Then, apply strong tension up over the later side to the medial upper anchor (the tape should end where it began). Repeat this step again for the lateral side. Perform this step for the medial s ide. The tape will begin on the opposite side.

Ankle Tape pg. 3

Apply a simple figure-8 to close and to reinforce the ankle. Start anteriorly crossing the ankle towards the medial aspect of the mid-foot and pass under the foot. Pull up with firm tension over the lateral side before crossing the ankle anteriorly with less tension. Bring the tape horizontally behind the Achilles tendon.

Finish anteriorly, crossing the starting point of the strip. Complete the closing-up strips covering the mid-foot and distal anchors. Test tape for adequate restriction of motion and ensure that tape on mid-foot is not too tight.

A ½” heel lift, beveled at the front edge, will raise the heel and reduce stress on the injured ligaments. This is particularly useful during the subacute stage.

OBJECTIVES: ? Support Plantar Aspect of Foot by Functionally Shortening and Reinforcing the Longitudinal Arches, ? Permit Plantar Flexion Mobility, and ? Limit Extension (Dorsiflexion) of the Midtarsal Joints.

Taping for Longitudinal Arch Sprain & Plantar Fasciitis

Clean and prepare the area by shaving if excessive hair is present. Spray the area with skin toughener (Tuf-Skin®, STA®, etc.). Place anchor strips of 1½” tape, using light tension, around the foot at the level of the metatarsal heads. Using firm tension, place strips of 1” tape from the head of the first metatarsal under the arch, around the heel.

Finish on the medial aspect of the head of the first metatarsal, shortening the medial arch. Starting from the lateral aspect of the anchor’s plantar surface, apply a second strip, with strong tension, crossing the transverse arch diagonally around the foot. Pass behind the heel without tension and finish over the lateral aspect of the head of the fifth metatarsal.






Arch Tape pg. 2

Repeat previous 2 steps two more times overlapping by ½ tape width moving laterally.

Close up with circumferential strips of 1½” tape. Apply with firm upward pressure, following contours of foot with each strip, beginning at the heads of the metatarsals, progressing towards the heel, over lapping each strip by ½. NOTE: elastic tape can be substituted for cotton tape. Test tape for adequate restriction of motion and ensure that tape on mid-foot is not too tight.

OBJECTIVES: ? Support the Elbow Laterally, ? Limit the last 30° of Extension and End-Range Pronation of the Forearm, and ? Allow Full Flexion and Almost Full Supination

Taping for Elbow Hyperextension Injury

Clean and prepare the area by shaving if excessive hair is present. Spray the area with skin toughener (Tuf-Skin®, STA®, etc.). Apply pre -wrap from the proximal ? of the forearm to the distal ? of the humerus. Apply lubricated heel and lace pads to prevent blisters and tape cuts over the cubital fossa. Apply 2 circumferential anchor strips of 2” elastic tape to the mid-humerus and mid forearm. Remember that the anchor strips must be on the skin to provide adequate support.

To form a check-rein, place the elbow in 45° of flexion and apply a vertical strip of 2” elastic tape from the proximal anchor to the distal anchor, directly over the anterior aspect of the elbow. Repeat this step, overlapping the first strip laterally by ½.






Apply anchors proximally and distally with 2” elastic tape. Test tape for adequate restriction of motion and ensure that tape is not too tight. Check distal pulses and nail bed capillary refill to ensure that the tape has not been applied too tightly.

Elbow Tape pg. 2

For medial stability, hold the elbow at 35° of flexion, and apply a vertical strip of 1½” white tape from the distal anchor to the upper anchor with strong tension. Apply a second strip to form an”X” across the medial joint line, also with stron tension. Repeat the “X” on the lateral joint line.

OBJECTIVES: ? Supports the Collateral Ligaments of the 1st Metacarpal Phalangeal Joint,

? Prevents the Last Degrees of Extension, Limits Abduction,

? Allows Some Flexion, and

? Does Not Compromise Wrist and Hand Function

Taping for Thumb Sprain

Clean and prepare the area by shaving if excessive hair is present. Spray the area with skin toughener (Tuf-Skin®, STA®, etc.).

Apply 2 circumferential strips of 1½” tape around the wrist.

Apply a distal anchor. Start from the posterior side of the proximal anchor, wrap around the wrist, pull up and across the dorsum of the hand.

Cross from posterior to anterior between the thumb and index finger.

Continue diagonally across the palmar aspect of the hand and fix the strip medially on the proximal anchor.

Apply a thumb anchor lightly.






Thumb Tape pg. 2

Apply an incomplete figure-8 strip of 1” tape by pulling gently around the thumb, crossing the strips and pulling equally with both hands medially, adducting the thumb before adhering both ends of this strip to the anchor. The anterior end is applied to the palmar anchor, and the posterior end is applied to the dorsal anchor with firm pressure. Continue to apply the half figure-8 strips, overlapping by ½ width, until the fan reaches the base of the thumb.

Apply anchor strips around the wrist covering all ends of the half figure-8 strips and any remaining tape ends. Test tape for adequate restriction of motion and ensure that tape is not too tight. Check nail bed capillary refill to ensure that the tape has not been applied too tightly.

OBJECTIVES:

? Support first Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) Joint,

? Allow Moderate Flexion and Minimal Extension, and

? Limits End Range o f Flexion, Extension, and Adduction.

Taping for Toe Sprain (Turf-Toe)

Clean and prepare the area by shaving if excessive hair is present. Spray the area with skin toughener (Tuf-Skin®, STA®, etc.).

Place an anchor of 1” white tape around the distal toe. Place an anchor of 1 ½” tape around the mid-foot.

Place a longitudinal supporting strip of 1” tape from distal to proximal anchor on medial aspect of foot.

Begin a plantar X with a longitudinal strip diagonally from lateral aspect of distal anchor to medial aspect of proximal anchor on plantar aspect of first MTP joint.

Cross this with second strip from the medial aspect of the distal anchor crossing MTP joint at its midpoint on plantar aspect.






Close up taping with light circumferential strips covering sites of original anchors with 1” tape for toe, and 1½” tape for mid-foot. Start proximally and move distally with anchors, overlapping each previous strip by ½. Test tape for adequate restriction of toe motion and ensure that tape on mid-foot is not too tight.

Turf Toe Tape pg. 2

Begin dorsal X with a 1” strip from the medial aspect of the distal anchor to dorsal aspect of the proximal anchor. Finish the dorsal X by crossing this strip from lateral aspect of distal anchor to medial aspect of proximal anchor, forming an X over the dorsal MTP joint.

33701091 sports medicine specialists taping techniques

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