Taping, according to medical sports practitioners, is a new and effective treatment for joint or muscle dysfunction. Using highly elastic adhesive tapes and other
taping applications, it provides support to muscles during an activity without affecting the range of movements. It also allows many athletes to continue with their sporting activities even if they still have an injury. Most importantly it can be used to relieve both pain and swelling that may result from sporting activity.
In the United States, taping has an important role in the life of golf legend Tiger Woods and of cycling prodigy Lance Armstrong. It was also used by the Olympic Village Physio Team to treat several athletes during the 2004 Olympic Games. In the United Kingdom, taping is used in high schools and universities, clinics and hospitals, and by professional sports teams. It is also being introduced to Europe, as of 2010, as a method, especially for
sports injury practitioners and physiotherapists.
The most common sports-related injuries are sprains on the ankle and fingers, or on acromioclavicular or shoulder joint. Ankle sprains occur in almost all types of
sports events and therefore need taping to lessen the level of severity of the injury. Ankle bracing may also be used instead of the
traditional taping. Although it is self-applied, re-adjustable and reusable, it is less comfortable to many athletes wearing it. The method for taping an athlete’s ankle is a matter of choice for coaches and trainers. Such method, however, should be used in concurrence with the rehabilitation of the athlete in relation to injury prevention. To prevent ankle sprains, authorities recommend the use of high-top shoes with inflatable support chambers for a lower risk of injury. Basketball and other netball players are prone to sprained fingers which must be taped with the use of fixation bandages. These bandages can keep the fingers stable and less prone to injury and pain, but they must be changed frequently because of sweating. Taping is very important to shoulder injury resulting from
contact sports , and bike or car accidents. If you are taping a shoulder injury, the following few steps should be considered: (a) Apply a strip of athletic tape at the back of the shoulder and bring it over the shoulder and the chest muscles, (b) Wrap the upper arm with two or three athletic tapes, (c) Apply a strip of similar tape at top of shoulder, then to the back of the arm before pressing to smooth out, and (d) Avoid applying the tape too tight so as not to block blood circulation.
You will find out if shoulder taping is effective if it supports and stabilizes the shoulder joint or the strain and stress on the surrounding ligaments have decreased. As in taping other sprains, shoulder taping prevents existing injuries from aggravating and lessens the risks of injuring it again. You will be allowed to return to your sports activity much earlier as the abnormal movements of your shoulder joints are reduced. If taping should be done in conjunction with a rehabilitation program, be sure that such program includes mobility, stretching and strengthening exercises. Before taping, you should first seek a doctor for the injury and after taping, remove the tape as soon as possible if you find any discomfort on your shoulder area.
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