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

hypoallergenic
• Athletic tape is 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 • Athletic tape is made to

cool, relatively dry be torn easily by holding
environment. 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.