Taping and Bracing

Functions of Taping and Bracing

• Prevention: Aid in stabilization, support, and protection of uninjured or fully rehabilitated joints and soft tissues

• Treatment: Minimize pain and swelling in the acute phase, aid in unloading painful structures, and provide support to unstable joints

• Rehabilitation: Aid in early mobilization, muscle imbalances, neural control, proprioception, and protect healing injuries

Physician’s Role in Taping and Bracing

• Determine the appropriateness of taping/bracing.

• Facilitate the selection process.

  • Identify available options.

  • Communicate with the treatment team: athlete, parent, certified athletic trainer, physical therapist, and coach

• Evaluate effectiveness of the selected support.

Implementation of Taping and Bracing

• Athlete’s acceptance: Involve the athlete in the decision-making process; must be comfortable and functional; realize positive psychological effects of taping and bracing, which may improve athlete’s confidence on returning to competition

• Sporting equipment regulations: Know the sport’s regulations. Equipment modifications may be needed. Use materials that do not endanger other athletes. Exposed metal must be covered during contact sports. The environment will affect options.

Practical Considerations

• Prescription: Braces may require physician prescription, which needs to include diagnosis code, type of brace, length of need, and, occasionally, statement of medical necessity.

• Cost: Taping materials and braces can be costly. Athletic departments may or may not cover full expense. Insurance coverage varies, and durable medical equipment may not contribute toward the patient’s deductible.

• Marketing: Types of tape, taping techniques, and braces are full of unsubstantiated claims and disclaimers of liability. New products should be viewed with an open, but critical, mind.

Preparation

Decide on an appropriate technique. Gather required tape supplies. Place the athlete’s body part in position of function and/or protection. Use an appropriate table height to optimize the taper’s body mechanics.

Types of Tape

• Nonstretch tape: good tensile strength with cloth backing that gives mechanical support to ligaments and joints; can also be used to reinforce stretch tape (e.g., standard trainer’s athletic tape)

• Stretch tape: may be a one-way stretch (in length or width) or two-way stretch (in length and width); conforms to contours of the body and allows normal tissue expansion; typically requires scissors to tear and is more expensive (e.g., Kinesiotape, Elastikon, Lightplast, or Cover-Roll)

• Cohesive bandages: sticks to itself, waterproof, and reusable; may be used in place of stretch tape (e.g., Coban or Co-Flex)

• Hypoallergenic tape: alternative to standard zinc oxide nonstretch tape

• Size of body part determines the appropriate width.

Skin Care

• Preventive measures:

  • Shave hair: Increases adhesion of the tape and reduces irritation and build-up of residue

  • Apply taping base (e.g., tincture of benzoin): Increases adhesion of the tape and provides a protective layer between the tape and skin

  • Apply tape underwrap (e.g., thin polyester urethane foam): Decreases skin problems and increases athlete’s comfort; may not be appropriate for all uses

  • Apply lubricant to possible areas of irritation (e.g., lace and heel areas of the ankle)

• Appropriate tape removal: Use scissors or cutters with a blunt tip. Teach the athlete the appropriate removal technique. Cleanse the skin to remove tape residue. Treat skin irritations and wounds promptly; these problems can prevent further taping.

• Allergic reactions to tape materials: Recognize and treat problems. Consider alternative tape supplies. Investigate other forms of support and protection.

Application

• Requires skill; proficiency results from practice

• Elements of appropriate taping technique:

  • Tearing tape is a basic skill; tape must be torn often.

  • Every piece of tape should have a distinct purpose.

  • Place anchor strips proximal and distal to the injured area directly on the skin.

  • Bridge across injury; duplicate anatomy needing support

  • Weave strips to add strength, overlapping by at least one-half the width of the tape

  • Adapt two-dimensional tape to three-dimensional body part

  • Limit pressure around body prominences, particularly when vascular and neural structures are superficial.

  • Use stretch tape over muscle bellies to allow normal muscle expansion.

  • Inspect for and tape over any gaps in taping to prevent blisters and tape cuts.

• Avoid common problems that restrict circulation: applying too much tape; applying repeated circumferential strips without tearing between turns; forcing tape to go in desired direction; be careful if using tape with acute injuries because swelling causes tightness