Introduction for Taping and Wrapping Techniques Associated with Athletic Injuries.
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Within athletic training, taping, wrapping, bracing, and padding techniques are utilized within athletics and contribute to the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. For the purpose of this instructional program, only the basics of taping and wrapping techniques will be discussed, explained and demonstrated. To start, it is important that the basics of the materials are identified and discussed.
Tapes
The purposes associated with taping athletic injuries include the following: to reduce the range of motion, to provide support and protection to injured joints or muscles, and to secure elastic wraps. Many intercollegiate and sports medical facilities allot a portion of their budget to the purchase of tapes and materials needed to complete a taping technique. There are many different types of tapes that can be used within a sports medicine facility. The price of the tape and the desired outcomes that it produces are often times taken into consideration prior to the purchase. All types of tape may fall into one of three categories including: non-elastic, elastic, and cast. For this instructional program, we will focus on the materials used most often by the athletic trainers at Virginia Tech.
Recommendations for the application of tape include the following:
Wraps
The purposes of wrapping athletic injuries include the following: to provide compression which will help reduce swelling in the injured area, to prevent range of motion in a specific area, to secure pads and dressings. Unlike tape, these materials can be washed and reused multiple times. Similar to tape, there are many different types and sizes of wraps that can be used within a sports medicine facility. Similar to tape, there are three categories of wraps that can be used, including elastic, self-adherent, and cloth. For the purpose of this instructional program, we will only discuss elastic wraps.
Tapes
The purposes associated with taping athletic injuries include the following: to reduce the range of motion, to provide support and protection to injured joints or muscles, and to secure elastic wraps. Many intercollegiate and sports medical facilities allot a portion of their budget to the purchase of tapes and materials needed to complete a taping technique. There are many different types of tapes that can be used within a sports medicine facility. The price of the tape and the desired outcomes that it produces are often times taken into consideration prior to the purchase. All types of tape may fall into one of three categories including: non-elastic, elastic, and cast. For this instructional program, we will focus on the materials used most often by the athletic trainers at Virginia Tech.
- Non-Elastic Tape:
- Elastic Tape:
Recommendations for the application of tape include the following:
- Gather the supplies prior that may be needed prior to applying tape (tough skin, heal and lace pads, scissors, etc.)
- Unless the athlete is allergic and provides specific instructions not to, then apply tough skin at at the start of each taping
- Always make sure the athlete is positioned in a way that makes to tape most effective
- Always hold the tape close to the starting point, this will provide more control when applying the tape
- When applying non-elastic tape, always apply the tape in way the resembles unrolling a carpet.
- When applying tape, always try to keep the tape in your hands, this will save you time
Wraps
The purposes of wrapping athletic injuries include the following: to provide compression which will help reduce swelling in the injured area, to prevent range of motion in a specific area, to secure pads and dressings. Unlike tape, these materials can be washed and reused multiple times. Similar to tape, there are many different types and sizes of wraps that can be used within a sports medicine facility. Similar to tape, there are three categories of wraps that can be used, including elastic, self-adherent, and cloth. For the purpose of this instructional program, we will only discuss elastic wraps.
- Elastic Wrap:
Recommendations for the application of wraps include the following:
- Apply with a firm tension in and always unroll the wrap onto the athlete (the rug idea).
- When you first apply the elastic wrap, make sure you work distal to proximal.
- Overlap the wrap by half its width when applying
- When the wrap is complete, you can either anchor the end with tape, velcro fasteners, or metal clips.
- Wash and reuse until the wrap loses its elastic properties, then discard.
Other Materials
Other materials that are often used when taping and wrapping athletic injuries include Tough Skin and lubricated heel and lace pads.
- Tough Skin is an adherent spray that is often used before taping and wrapping techniques. This spray aids in preventing the tape or wrap from slipping or moving once the athlete begins activity.
- Heel and lace pads are extremely thin foam pads that typically the first thing that is applied when starting a taping technique. These pads are usually placed on areas that have bony prominence or where friction of the skin occurs during activity. Using these pads will aid in preventing the athlete from gaining blisters.