Sports Taping: What is it?

With athletes now widely using sports tape during competition, you could be forgiven for believing that it’s a revolutionary new technology created for elite sportspeople. It was, however, first introduced in the 1970s. Sports tape has developed since then and is now commonly used by athletes, amateur and professional, when they are engaged in physical activity. While sports taping is not considered a guarantee against injury, it can have many benefits.

Sports taping can give you the confidence you need to stay on the pitch and avoid niggly injuries. With a number of benefits, taping is often used as an adjunct or temporary technique as a defence mechanism. Sprains, strains, muscles, tendons or tissue injuries are some of the most common ailments that athletes face which taping can help with.

Tape for athletic sports involves applying directly to the skin to stabilize and neutralize vulnerable muscles, joints and ligaments. Some of the goals of taping are to restrict movement of injured joints, compress soft tissue to reduce swelling. Used as either a means of rehabilitation or prophylaxis in cases where support and stability are needed, or as an aid to prevent injury and protect the damaged anatomical structure during healing. The elastic strap can also be used when less rigidity or less support is required. Kinesiology tape is an improved version of an elastic sports tape that dynamically supports muscle function.

To properly tape a joint or muscle injury, you need to recognize the injury you are evaluating. For example, an ankle injury will result in a different wrapping technique than the shoulder or arm.

Intended Purpose and Effect of Taping Techniques:

• Relieve pain
• Improve joint stability
• Enhance physical confidence
• prevent injury
• Reduce chances of recurrent injury
• Reduce strain on injuries
• Facilitate normal movement/muscle action

Application of sports tape:

Protection of the skin: Check the skin sensitivity of the person to be taped that he is not allergic to the adhesive tape. Make sure there is no existing rash or broken skin in the area to be taped.

Hair removal in the area to be taped: It is better if the hair is removed 12 hours prior to the tape application to reduce skin irritation.

Clean and prepare the skin: The padding of the sensitive areas with adhesive tape.

Next time you encounter an injury, book online at Cairnhill Physiotherapy to meet our expert physios and we’ll work hard to return you to full fitness.