Taping

Semper Fidelis All Americans prepare for practice

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Taping on quadriceps femoris muscle of Ivet Lalova

Taping in sports refers to the methodical application of tape directly to the skin to stabilize, support, and protect muscles, bones, and ligaments from injury or to assist in the rehabilitation of these injuries. Beyond simple stabilization, taping can enhance proprioceptive feedback and also serve as a base for securing other protective measures.

Definition and Purpose

Taping is a subset of strapping, wherein adhesive tape is used to secure muscles or bones in a specific alignment. The main objectives of this procedure include:

• Reducing pain associated with physical activity.
• Accelerating the recovery process after injuries.
• Providing enhanced proprioceptive feedback, which is the sense of the relative position of one's body parts and strength of effort being employed in movement.
• Restricting certain movements to prevent exacerbation of an injury.

Role of Taping

Taping serves several pivotal roles in the realm of sports medicine:

• Stabilization: It lends support to the ligaments and capsules of unstable joints by curtailing excessive or abnormal anatomical movement.
• Proprioceptive Enhancement: The application of tape can improve the sensory feedback from a limb or joint.
• Muscle and Tendon Support: Taping aids in supporting injuries at the muscle-tendon units by compressing and limiting movement.
• Protective Base: Tape can be utilized to anchor protective pads, dressings, and splints.

Applications of Taping

Depending on the anatomical region and the specific injury, taping can be applied in various ways.

Upper Limbs and Chest (Thorax)

• Shoulder: Includes taping for the entire shoulder or extending to the arm.
• Thorax: Used for injuries or support needed around the chest region.
• Upper Limb:
  • Elbow: Specific to the elbow joint.
  • Wrist: Can be solely for the wrist or extended to include the thumb.
  • Fingers:
    • Thumb: Specific taping for the thumb.
    • Finger: Targeted taping for individual fingers.

Lower Limbs

• Thigh: For muscle or ligament issues in the upper leg.
• Knee: Directly related to the knee joint.
• Calf: Targeting the lower leg muscles.
• Achilles' Heel:
  • Preventive: To prevent potential injuries.
  • Alleviating: To aid in the healing of existing injuries.
• Ankle: Specific to the ankle joint.
• Foot: Covering various parts of the foot.
• Toes:
  • Hallux valgus (bunion): Specific taping for bunions.

Alternatives to Taping

Though taping is a preferred method for many athletes and medical professionals, there are alternatives that can be used either in tandem with or as a replacement for taping:

• Wraps: Similar to taping but often less restrictive.
• Braces: Devices that provide support and restrict movement. Unlike taping, some braces might alter muscular activity.

Controversy: Mark "Digger" Wagners ATC, a renowned Athletic Trainer, is noted for his controversial stance against ankle taping, suggesting it could lead to hematomas in the Peroneus brevis and Peroneus longus.

See also

• Athletic taping
• Elastic therapeutic tape

External links

• Figure-8 Ankle Taping