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Strapping for sports
injuries
A physiotherapists perspective
Theo Kapakoulakis
Benefits of strapping /taping.
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Prevent injury
Reduce the severity of injury
Provide support
Pain relief.
Limit specific movement at a joint
Allow desired movement at a joint
Improve posture
Facilitate desirable muscle function
Inhibit undesirable muscle function
Strapping / taping for sports injuries.
 Is an adjunct treatment
 Does not replace a strengthening /
neuromuscular program as taping does not
provide the same motion restriction as an
uninjured ligament with intact muscle
function.
 Is a technical skill and requires expertise to
apply correctly
Selection of tape .
 Appropriate size for injured limb and size of athlete
 Eg: 3.8cm for ankle/shoulder, 2.5cm for thumb, 1.25
cm for fingers.
 Rigid vs Elastic
 Rigid for joint support
 Elastic for compression +/- joint support
 Adhesive qualities
 Maintain adherence despite perspiration
 Not irritate skin
 Removable without leaving excessive residue
Guidelines for tape application
 Preparation of the area
 Skin clean/dry, no lotions, oil or dirt.
 Preferably shaved the day before
 Apply padding to areas that require protection
 Apply a tape adherent if required
 Consider applying underwrap if athlete has
tape sensitivity
 Use plastic skin or hypoallergenic tape in
sensitive areas that have frequent tape
application
Guidelines for tape application
 Taping
 Select appropriate size
 Place the joint in an appropriate position
 If taping over muscle allow for contraction and
expansion of area
 Avoid continuous taping
 Overlap the tape by at least half the width of the tape
below
 Tape from the roll where possible
 Lay tape of the roll and only apply tension in the
direction of movement restriction
 Allow tape to follow contours of limb. No gaps or
creases
 Start with an anchor and finish with a locking piece
Guidelines for tape application
 Post taping checks.
 Check for impaired circulation
 Capillary refill distal to tape application
 Check for impaired sensation
 Any pins and needles?
 Normal feeling in area?
 Is there any pain?
 Does the tape feel too tight?
 Check that tape is restricting the movement intended
 Ask athlete to move the joint through the required
functional movements
Guidelines for tape application.
 Removing the tape
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Use tape scissors with blunt nose
Pull the tape back on itself and place pressure
on the skin as close as possible to the line of
the attachment with the tape
Do not wrench the tape from the skin
If an injury has occurred , cut the tape at a site
remote from the injury and avoid placing
undue stress on the injured area
Ankle strapping.
 Popular application.
 Mandated by many
sports insurance and
sporting bodies
 Research available
indicating validity but
showing reduction of
motion control over
time
 Role in proprioception?
 Used in prophylaxis
and rehab
 +/- bracing?
A) Leukowrap: (underwrap) is applied in a Figure eight "overwrapping" style. (Shaving
is preferred).
B) Leukofoam: is cut to shape and stuck to skin to pad out the hollow below the ankle
bone.
Leuko Spray Adhesive: is normally used to help secure the Leukowrap.
Anchors: (Green Tape) are next applied to firmly attach the stirrups to.
First Stirrup: (Red Tape) is firmly attached to the anchor.
3.8cm width Leuko Sportstape is the most popular for use throughout the technique.
(Note: Coloured tape is only for demonstration purposes.).
Three Stirrups: (Blue Tape Stirrups Two and Three) are generally applied. Theses
attach to the anchors starting from inside to outside in a U shape formation. They
provide excellent support.
Two Figure Six's: (Red first, Blue second) are to further counteract the inversion
movement that causes injury. Applied from the inside to the outside returning to the
inside after crossing the front of the foot.
Locking Strap: (Green Tape) is to hold the Stirrups and Figure Six's in place.
First Half Heel Lock: (Green Taper) is for support to the rear ankle region. Begin on
front of lower leg and move under foot, to outside of heel. Finish on the inside of the
lower leg where you started.
Second Half Heel Lock: (not shown) is applied in the opposite direction.
Preventative Taping For The Finger
This taping method is to support a sprained finger joint. Tape is applied
above and below the joint.
Use next finger as a splint: and position a strip of
Leukofoam? Orthopaedic Support Foam to prevent
rubbing between the fingers.
Apply 2 simple spirals: (Blue Tape) of Leuko
Sportstape 1.25cm around the fingers.
Leave the joint area exposed: to allow some
movement. Always finish off on top to prevent tape
rolling in contact sports.
Preventative Taping For The Thumb
This taping is to support the proximal metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Support
is required following a thumb (abduction) sprain or to help stop reinjury of a weakened
joint.
Patellofemoral taping.
 For patellofemoral
pain syndrome.
 Used for pain
relief and to
facilitate VMO
function
 McConnell:PT
Postural strapping.
 Scapula repositioning for
shoulder instability
syndromes
Lyn Watson: PT
Shoulder strapping
 AC joint
 instability
‘Check straps’: Limit physiological ROM of
injured joint.
 Elbow:
 Achilles:
Muscle inhibition/’offloading’ taping
 Tennis elbow
 Patella tendon
Taping to influence Biomechanics
 Orthotics
 Many options
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Soft-hard
Customised or ‘off the shelf’
Expensive!
Consider supination assist
taping as alternative or ‘trial’.
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Modified ‘Low-Dye’
Taping to improve lymphatic function
 Kinesio tape