Chapter 21

1. Chapter 21 Taping and Wrapping

2. Uses of Tape for Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries • Closing lacerations • Preventing blisters on areas of skin exposed to repeated friction • Holding bandages, pads, dressings and splinting devices into place • Securing splints for small fractures

3. Uses of Tape for Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries • Supporting bony anatomy and relieving stress on supportive soft tissue • Restricting motion to support and eliminate stress on ligaments • Restriction of motion and compression • Support muscle, tendon or stress injuries

4. The Safe and Proper Use of Athletic Adhesive Tapes • Prophylactic strapping of ankle • Greatest single use of adhesive tape • Tape must be applied with ease, speed, and consistency • Tape must afford protection and stability to the part being strapped

5. Warning! • If pain or soreness doesn’t decrease or go away • Further evaluation and diagnosis will be needed • Adequate circulation is crucial

6. Warning! • If extremity changes color or starts to get cold • Taping or wrapping is probably too tight and must be redone to the athlete’s recommendations

7. Taping Guidelines • Taping is best directly on shaved skin • Prevent irritated skin • Use underwrap and skin adherent prior to taping • Make sure the athlete is not allergic to the tape or skin adherent

8. Taping Guidelines • Area to be taped should be clean and dry • Any oil on the skin should be removed • Cover all cuts and blisters with an adhesive bandage containing some type of skin lubricant

9. Taping Guidelines • Skin lubricant and foam padding • Should be applied on any friction or pressure areas before applying underwrap

10. Problems for the Inexperienced Taper • When tape folds over • Difficult to tear at the fold • Use scissors or tear the tape at a fresh edge • Turning corners over irregular anatomy can be a challenge

11. Problems for the Inexperienced Taper • Keeping tape smooth and wrinkle-free can be difficult • Inexperience can lead to the tape being too loose or too tight

12. Removal of Adhesive Tape • Use bandage scissors or a special tape cutter • Lubricant on the blunt edge of the scissors or cutter • Allows it to slide under the edge of the tape • Move scissors along natural channels • Avoid bony prominences

13. Removal of Adhesive Tape • Careful observation while removing tape • Allows trainer to stop if there appears to be evidence of blistering or skin being pulled off with the tape

14. Most Common Areas for Taping • Trainer will stabilize these areas most often by strapping or taping • Require much practice • Basic ankle strapping • Combination elastic and non-elastic tape ankle strapping • Lower tibia taping

15. Most Common Areas for Taping • Turf toe strapping • Arch taping • Basic knee strapping • Achilles tendon taping • Elbow taping • Wrist strapping

16. Most Common Areas for Taping • Simple thumb taping • Basic ankle wrapping • Calf and knee wrapping • Calf wrap • Knee wrap • Wrapping the thigh, groin and back • Hamstring/quadriceps wrap

17. Most Common Areas for Taping • Wrapping of elbow, hand, and thumb • Finger taping • Restriction of thumb flexion, extension, and abduction • Applying moleskin