The role of strapping and taping

The role of strapping and taping

Strapping and taping techniques are some of the most important and most visible skills a physiotherapist, sports therapist or athletic trainer working with sports men and women can have.

Strapping and taping techniques can help prevent injury as well as protect the athlete from re-injury whilst returning to sport. The role of tape is to limit the movement in an injured joint to prevent excess or abnormal movement. In addition it should provie support to the muscles surrounding the joint that may be under additional strain due to the ligament injury.

Another benefit of taping is though to be the enhanced proprioception (or kinaesthetic feedback) that the tape provides during movement (or in other words it is thought to improve co-ordination). For example if a taped ankle starts to invert (turn over) during a jump then the tape will restrict this and inform the body that it needs to contract muscles to prevent this movement in the ankle. Without this feedback the athlete may be unaware the ankle has started to invert and land on it badly injuring it again.

Tape should only be used in conjunction with a proper rehabilitation programme including stretching, mobility and strengthening exercises.

Tape can also be used to protect unstable joints where repeated or severe ligament damage has resulted in stretching of the ligaments and joint laxity. For examples athletes who repeatedly suffer ankle sprains due to laxity of the joint may benefit from taping or wearing an ankle brace to support the joint because the ligaments have been stretched too much to do their job properly.

Tape is also used to secure protective pads and dressings.

Types of sports strapping tape:

There are many different types of tape used for strapping and taping in sport. The three main types used are zinc oxide tape, elastic adhesive bandage and elastic cohesive bandage.

Zinc oxide tape

Zinc oxide tape is usually white (sometimes tan or brown) in colour, non elastic and sticky. It is given the common name zinc oxide tape due to the glue containing zinc oxide (although other types of tape may have glue containing zinc oxide. It comes in a variety of widths and is easy to tear (honest!). It is used in a variety of applications , particularly llimiting the range of movement of a joint or protecting the skin against blisters.

Sometimes underwrap (a soft foam type tape) is used underneath zinc oxide tape to protect the skin. Best results are obtained from applying tape directly to the skin but on particularly hairy clients who choose not to shave this is the next best option. When using underwrap a skin adhesive is required to ensure the underwrap sticks as well as possible to the skin.

Zinc oxide tape should never be used to surround or enclose muscles as these are likely to expand during exercises and result in restricted blood flow to the area.

Elastic adhesive bandage
Elastic adhesive bandage or EAB as it is often known is an elastic material type tape that is adhesive and will stick to skin. It comes in a variety of widths but most common is 2 inch (5cm) and 3 inch (7.5cm). EAB is too strong to be torn with the fingers and should be cut with scissors or special tape cutters.

EAB is particularly useful for taping around muscles as they will expand during exercise and the tape will allow this to some extent. It is often used to apply anchors from which zinc oxide tape is applied to restriction joint movement.

Cohesive bandage
Cohesvie bandage is an elastic bandage which will stick to itself but not the skin. It does not have any sticky or adhesive layer to make it stick to skin. Cohesive bandages come in a wide variety of colours, are elastic and are very easy to tear with the fingers. They are commonly used for wrapping joints, finishing off and covering tapings and for compression to injured joints or muscles.

Tearing zinc oxide sports tape

This has proved a challenge for many a sports injury therapist or trainer but if a simple technique is used then it should but once mastered you should never have a problem again. Ensure it is non stretch zinc oxide tape that you are trying to cut and not eab as elastic adhesive bandage cannot be torn and should be cut.

• Get a good grip on the tape between the fingers and thumbs.
• Ensure the fingers on both hands are as close together as you can get.
• Ensure there is tension along the top edge of the tape and with one fast motion rip the fingers apart to tear.
• If you do not maintain tension in the tape or allow the edge to become crimped then tearing will be all but impossible. In this case simply move further up the tape to a new bit and try again.
• Once you have the hang of this simple technique you should be capable of tearing zinc oxide tape across or along its leng with no problems.

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