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.