Taping and Wrapping

Sports Medicine

Chapter 13

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries• Key Concept

– The primary purpose of taping and wrapping is to provide additional support, stability, and compression for an affected body part. Taping can be used as a preventive measure or as protection for new or healing injuries.

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries• Taping and wrapping is an important skill

for the sports medicine team.

• Key Concept– Students should be able to demonstrate basic

taping and wrapping techniques described in this chapter.

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries• It can be preventative for athletes who need

additional protection or as a treatment for new and healing injuries.

• Before tape or wraps are applied, a certified athletic trainer or team physician should complete a full assessment of the athlete’s injury.

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries• Athletic tape is hypoallergenic and

cotton-backed with adhesive designed to withstand temperature changes.

• Key Concept– Supplies needed for taping and wrapping

include spray adhesives, underwrap, tape, foam paddings, and tape-removal tools.

Taping Supplies

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries– It should be stored in a

cool, relatively dry environment.

– Athletic tape is made to be torn easily by holding firmly on each side and pulling at an angle so the force breaks the fibers.

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries• Tape underwrap helps eliminate irritation

from repeated taping, while providing comfort for the athlete, holding heel and lace pads in place, and keeping tape away from the skin of those athletes allergic to tape.

• Spray adherent helps the adhesive tape and underwrap adhere to the skin.

Underwrap and Spray Adherent

Taping and Wrapping in the Prevention and Treatment of

Athletic Injuries• Heel and lace pads help prevent pinching

and blistering in friction-prone areas and are with a lubricant ointment.

• Tape-removing tools include specialized scissors and tape cutting devices designed to slip under the tape and underwrap, and quickly slice through the tape without irritation to the athlete.

Prophylactic Taping of the Ankle

• This is the most common use for athletic tape, adding support and protection from new or additional injury.

• Blisters, abrasions, cuts and athlete’s foot must be treated before taping by the certified athletic trainer.

Prophylactic Taping of the Ankle

• Basic ankle taping– A liberal amount of spray adherent should be used over

the entire surface to be taped.– Heel and lace pads are placed in the major friction areas.– Underwrap is applied, maintaining equal tension.– Two anchor strips are applied at the top of the ankle

overlapping half the width of the tape.– Three stirrups are applied around the outside of the

ankle.– Cover strips are applied down the ankle.– The bottom of the foot is covered with cover strips.

Prophylactic Taping of the Ankle

• Basic Ankle cont.– Two heel locks are applied, which help keep the ankle

from moving in either an inverted or everted position.– The final step is called the figure eight.– (Apex, and Lock tape ends down)– After taping, gently compress the taped ankle to ensure

that the adhesive sticks well.– Be sure to ask the athlete how it feels. A well-taped

ankle should show no wrinkles; the taping should be uniform and at the proper tension.

Ankle Taping

Prophylactic Taping of the Ankle

• Compression wrap of the ankle– When an athlete sprains an ankle, it will be

necessary to control swelling and inflammation with a compression wrap and felt or foam horseshoe.

– Elastic wraps should not be applied too tightly (do not stretch more than half of its elastic capability).

Prophylactic Taping of the Ankle

– Compression wraps can be worn for up to 24 hours, sometimes more.

– RICES: rest, ice, compression, elevation, and support are all treatments used for sprained ankles. (PRICE)

Ankle Compression Wrap

Low-Dye Taping (Arch)

• Low-dye taping helps to improve foot biomechanics by keeping the athlete from over pronating (foot rotating inward).

• If low-dye taping gives significant relief, it is a strong indication that functional orthotics may be appropriate.

• This procedure does not always provide relief. If there is no relief after two to three procedures, low-dye taping should be discontinued,

Low-Dye Taping

Turf Toe Taping

• Turf toe, technically called a metatarsalphalangeal joint (MPJ) sprain, can occur after a forceful hyperextension (upward bending) of the big toe, causing damage to the ligaments and joint capsule.

• Taping can help stabilize the MPJ of the big toe, keeping it from hyper-extending.

Turf Toe Taping

Achilles-Tendon Taping

• The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, joining the lower leg gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus).

• Most ruptures of the Achilles tendon occur with the contraction of the calf muscles.

• Taping is an effective way to relieve strain and overstretching.

Achilles-Tendon Taping

Shin-Splint Taping

• Shin-splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), should be properly diagnosed prior to treatment.

• Circumferential elastic taping is a common method for providing some relief, giving gentle compression that relieves some of the discomfort of MTSS.

Shin-Splint Taping

Wrist taping

• Wrist taping adds support to the wrist.

• Wrist support products also available commercially.

Thumb Taping

• For mild sprain, proper taping allows safe return to play.

• A simple method to keep the thumb from hyper-extending is to tape the thumb to the adjacent finger, maintaining the normal spacing between the two.

Thumb Taping

Finger Taping

• Finger support can be obtained from a simple buddy taping procedure.

Elbow Taping

• Hyperextension of the elbow is normally the result of falling on an outstretched arm or hand.

• Taping prevents hyperextension and prevents hyper mobility, a body part from moving beyond its normal range of motion.

Elbow Taping

Groin Wrap

• Groin wrap uses a specialized wrap designed for this area to help with rehabilitation and recovery.

• Double length six inch elastic wrap.

Hip Flexor Wrap

• Hip flexor wrap is identical to groin wrap, except that it goes in the opposite direction.

Thigh Wrap

• Thigh compression wrap can help control the extent of bleeding within the muscle, common when the athlete receives a severe blow to the thigh.

• Double six inch elastic wrap.