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Chapter 10: Wrapping and Taping Techniques

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• Routinely used various reasons– Provide compression to minimize swelling– Injury prevention– Provide additional stability to an injured structure

• Application requires skill • While wrapping and taping skills are not difficult, trained individuals

with advanced experience should perform taping/bandaging• There are slight nuances to taping and variations to numerous

taping techniques• Techniques may work better for one athlete vs. another –

adjustments can be made

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• Taping supplies are often expensive and may not fit institution’s budget

• Tape application can be time consuming

• Tape vs. Bracing – effectiveness in providing support and preventing injury

• Should never be used as a substitute for rehabilitation– Must work to correct deficiency/weakness and

use tape/brace as an adjunct

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Elastic Wraps• Applied for a variety of purposes

– Compression of acute injuries – limit swelling

– Secure dressing or ice pack

– Provide support to injured soft tissue structure

• Gauze, cotton cloth, elastic wrapping• Length and width vary and are used according to

body part and size• Sizes ranges 2, 3, 4, 6 inch width and 6 or 10

yard lengths

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Elastic Wrap Application

• Hold wrap in preferred hand with loose end extending from bottom of roll

• Back surface of loose end should lay on skin surface

• Pressure and tension should be standardized

• Anchor is created by overlapping wrap– Start anchor at smallest circumference of limb

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• Body part should be wrapped in position of maximum contraction

• More turns with moderate tension vs. fewer turns with maximum tension

• Each turn should overlap by half to prevent separation

• Begin distally and move proximally• Circulation should be monitored when limbs

are wrapped

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Elastic wraps can be used to provide support for a variety scenarios:

• Ankle and foot spica• Lower leg spiral

bandage (spica)• Groin support• Shoulder spica• Elbow figure-eight• Hand and wrist

figure-eight

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Ankle/Foot Spica

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Lower Leg Spiral Wrap

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Hip Spica & Groin Wrap

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Shoulder Spica

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Elbow Figure ‘8’

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Hand/Fingers Figure ‘8’

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Non-elastic White Adhesive Tape

• Great adaptability due to:– Uniform adhesive mass– Adhering qualities– Lightness– Relative strength

• Help to hold dressings and provide stability and protection to injured areas

• Comes in varied sizes (1”, 1 1/2” , 2”)

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• Tape Grade– Graded according to longitudinal and vertical fibers per inch

– More costly (heavier) contains 85 horizontal and 65 vertical fibers

• Adhesive Properties– Should adhere regularly and maintain adhesion with

perspiration

– Contain few skin irritants

– Be easily removable without leaving adhesive residue and removing superficial skin

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• Winding Tension– Critically important– If applied for protection tension must be even

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Elastic Adhesive Tape• Used in combination with non-elastic tape• Good for small, angular parts due to elasticity.• Comes in a variety of widths (1”, 2”, 3”, 4”)• Allows for expansion of body parts

– Muscle during contraction, foot during WB

Storing Adhesive Tape• Store in a cool place• Stack so that the tape rests on its flat top or

bottom to avoid distortion of the roll

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Preparation for Taping

• Skin surface should be clean of oil, perspiration and dirt

• Hair should be removed to prevent skin irritation with tape removal

• Tape adherent is optional

• Foam and skin lubricant should be used to minimize blisters

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• Tape directly to skin for maximum support

• Prewrap (roll of thin foam) can be used to protect skin in cases where tape is used daily

• Prewrap should only be applied one layer thick when taping and should be anchored proximally and distally

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• Proper taping technique– Tape width used dependent on area– Acute angles = narrower tape

• Tearing tape– Various techniques can be used but should always allow

athletic trainer to hold on to roll of tape– Do not bend, twist or wrinkle tape– Tearing should result in straight edge with no loose

strands– Some tapes may require cutting agents

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Rules for Tape Application

• Tape in the position in which joint must be stabilized

• Overlap the tape by half• Avoid continuous taping• Keep tape roll in hand whenever possible• Smooth and mold tape as it is laid down on

skin• Allow tape to follow contours of the skin

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Rules for Tape Application (cont.)

• Start taping with an anchor piece and finish by applying a locking strip

• Where maximum support is desired, tape directly to the skin

• Do not apply tape if skin is hot or cold from treatments

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Removing Adhesive Tape

• Manual Removal– Always pull tape in direct line with body

• One hand pulls tape while other hand presses skin in opposite direction

• Use of scissors and cutters– Be sure not to aggravate injured area with

cutting device

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• Using “Tape Remover”– Alcohol-based liquid useful for removing adherent

• Works best when scrubbing with towel or cloth• Wash tape remover off with soap and water

• Waterproof tape– Swimmer, diver, or water polo player might require

application of adhesive tape

– If waterproof tape is not available, duct tape can be used as an effective substitute

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Common Taping Techniques

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Arch Taping

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Great Toe Taping

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Toes

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Closed Basket Weave Ankle Taping

• Used for newly sprained ankles

• Also utilized for chronically weak ankles

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Achilles Tendon(prevent Achilles over-stretching)

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Knee Taping- Should never be used as replacement to rehabilitation

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Elbow (Prevents elbow hyperextension)

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Wrist (Protects and stabilizes badly injured wrist)

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Thumb(Provide support to musculature

and joint)