Principles of Taping in Sports

Physiotherapists and athletic trainers have long used taping, wrapping, bandaging, and casting as part of their practice. Every athletic trainer or physiotherapist must know how to select and apply protective tapes, bandages, casting materials, and wraps.

Injuries can be prevented and existing injuries can be kept from worsening with protective tape, but it must be indicated or needed. The athletic trainer or physiotherapist must understand the indications and proper use of tape, including how tape should be selected, how it should be handled, and how to prepare the skin before applying tape.

Indications for Applying Tape

Tape may be applied for the following reasons:

• To provide support and stability. 

• To provide immediate first aid. 

• To secure a pad or brace. 

• To prevent injury. 

• To restrict the angle of pull. 

• To provide psychological assistance. 

Tape Selection

There are 6 types of tape to choose from: linen, elastic, hybrid, moleskin, kinesiology, and rigid. Understanding the differences between the various tapes to select the best one for the goals is crucial.

Linen Tape

Linen tape is the most common type and can be torn by hand. The width ranges from 0.5 to 2 inches (1-2.5 cm), but 1.5 inches (4 cm) is the most common size. Many manufacturers produce linen tape, but the quality of the products may change. Better tapes have more threads per square inch and come off the spool evenly. When choosing the quality of tape to purchase, several factors must be taken into account. When athletes rely heavily on taping procedures to prevent injuries, high-quality tape should be purchased. However, if a school has a small budget, buying lots of expensive tape may leave little money to purchase other supplies, so choosing a lower-quality tape might be the better option in this case.

Elastic Tape

An elastic tape usually has extra adhesive on one side and must be cut with scissors. It is used when strong material is desired or when the tape ends need to pull toward one another. For example, if an athlete has a hyperextended elbow, the elbow should not move into full extension, so an elastic tape could be applied from the front of the forearm to the front of the upper arm. Because the tape is attempting to return to its original length, it pulls the elbow into a slight degree of flexion and subsequently prevents hyperextension.

Hybrid Tape 

With this tape, you’ll find a combination of linen and elastic characteristics. Hybrid tape can often be torn by hand. Hybrid tape is used to surround strips of linen tape that have been applied to muscles and joints that must expand, contract, or bend. Covering the linen tape helps it stay in place. In terms of price, hybrid tape is slightly more expensive than linen tape of a similar quality.

Moleskin 

Moleskin is a thick tape with a lot of adhesive on one side. It sticks well to the skin and is very strong. Thus, it is often used when added strength is needed. It is rather expensive compared to other tape types, but is a useful tool for athletes returning to participate after injuries, such as ankle sprains, who require reinforcement to prevent reinjury.

Kinesiology Tape 

This tape is made of cotton threads and stretches lengthwise, but not width wise. One side of the tape has acrylic adhesive. When the tape is rubbed, it causes the adhesive to warm and adhere better to the skin. Kinesiology tape is used to allow range of motion, reduce swelling or inflammation, reduce pain, and take pressure off underlying tissues. It can be used where swelling is taking longer than normal to dissipate or when a nerve is entrapped. The athlete is positioned so the body part involved is stretched based on the injury. The tape is anchored to the skin and then pulled lengthwise so that the skin puckers a little when the body part is no longer in the stretched position. This type of tape can be left on for a couple of days as long as it stays dry and clean.

Rigid Tape

The purpose of rigid tape is to improve joint movement by changing the alignment or stabilizing a joint. The change in alignment or stabilization assists in reducing pain. This tape is used with a specialized adhesive underwrap, which protects the skin from the tape. After the underwrap is in place, the rigid tape is applied on top. Rigid tape can stay on for a few days even if it gets wet.

Header photo by Pexels