Taping

What is Taping?

Tape is used extensively by Therapists in the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries in sports and non sporting environments. It can prove equally beneficial in both. Tape, when applied and worn properly can offer both stability and allow movement around a joint.

Tape is used for containing swelling via compression, providing added support, protection and stimulation (this is known as proprioreception) to patients to aid their recovery after injury.

It is also used by athletes while they are performing or partaking in a sporting activity to help prevent injuries.

At SPS we follow two basic rules of taping:

• When we need to restrict joint movement, we use a rigid strapping tape.
• When we need to compress and support joints or muscles, we use an elastic adhesive bandage or EAB

Often we will use a combination of both.

The use of rigid and elastic adhesive tape has always been a tool in our treatment and management of injuries. Tape can support, stabilise, compress and stimulate providing a very useful adjunct to our other therapies and exercise prescription.

Although not a science, the correct use of tape can truly influence the recovery of an injury.

Physiotherapists and Sports Therapists are qualified to understand the mechanisms
of injuries and to apply the correct strapping techniques relevant to the injured body area.

Incorrect strapping could cause further problems. However we regularly teach our patients how to prepare and apply their own strappings.

Use of Tape in Sports:

There was an increase in popularity of taping following the 2008 Beijing Olympics when hundreds of athletes wore highly elastic colourful tapes currently sold under brand names of K (kinesiology) Tape or RockTape.

The correct use of this tape can be beneficial as part of a structured treatment or rehab’ programme.

K Tape & Its Application:

SPS Sport Therapist Cain Wilkinson has specific training in the use of K Tape and its correct application and use.

Benefits of Using K Tape / Kinesiotape / Rock Sports Tape:

It seems that the biggest benefit is in proprioception: they have a better understanding of when their limb or joint is placed under stretch. As the kinesiology tape is stretched, the skin provides feedback to the player that the limb or joint is under stretch also. Ref: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Some manufacturers claim that their tapes enhance blood circulation in the body and prevents the joints and muscles from swelling. This has yet to be proven scientifically.

However, in addition to providing support and protection tape can also provide a psychological benefit to patients, helping them to focus on playing their game or their daily activities without the worry of further damaging their injuries. That is no bad thing.

Proprioreception: 

Proprioreception is our body’s way of telling the brain where one body part is in relation to another. We often lose proprioreception when we injury ourselves. A very common example is an ankle strain.

Nerves get stretched and bruised causing something called a neuropraxia. When we turn our ankle its not just the ligaments and tendons that get stretched and torn. There are major nerves that run either side of the ankle joint. When they are stretched and bruised the wrong messages about the position of the ankle are sent to the brain which leaves the joint very vulnerable to further injury. This is why people often have repetitive ankle strains.

The treatment of the damaged tissues is by conventional, first aid, physiotherapy and ultrasound but possibly the most important part is rehabilitation in the form of repetitive exercises and balance training.

The use of correctly applied tape an excellent adjunct to treatment. It allows us to carryout practical and functional training whilst proving the protecting against further injury.

Recap: The correct use of tape can;

▪ provide support, compression and stability to injury.
▪ provide pain relief by taking the load of off damaged structures.
▪ provide the means to allow normal movement, and to correct dysfunctions

Contact SPS Premier Sports Therapy

For SPS Premier Sports Therapy services, contact Cain Wilkinson on 07482 566 259 or email spspremiersportstherapy@gmail.com