Taping in athletics is a relatively new phenomenon, but it has recently gained popularity among a wider audience. Sports strapping is primarily used to support or relieve injured athletes, although some use it as a preventative measure.

There are many ways to tape depending on the problem and the intended result. Taping effectively treats muscle sprains, tendon or ligament sprains and other tissue injuries that athletes may experience.

Tapping is used to treat or prevent injury when supporting and stabilizing an injured area in order to prevent further injury and protect the anatomical structure while it heals. Read on to learn the benefits of taping.

Application of Taping Technique and Its Effects

Physiotherapists often use the tape to:

• • Relieve pain

• • Increase joint stability

• • Reducing recurrence of injury

• • Injury prevention

• • Improve proprioception

• • Reduce inflammation in areas of swelling or edema

There are different kinds of tape that can be employed:

• • The most common style of rigid strapping tape is “sports tape” or “athletic tape.” This rigid style of strapping tape is commonly used in sports taping.

• • Tape with elastic properties can also be used in applications as well requiring a low level of rigidity.

• • Unlike elastic sports tape, kinesiology tape dynamically assists your muscles at work by improving proprioception to the applied area.

Types of taping

Athletic Tape

Athletic taping is often used as a preventative measure. The purpose of this technique is to limit joint range of motion by using stiff athletic tape as structural support. It is commonly used for areas around joints, such as ankles, wrists, and hands. Athletic tape can reduce the chances of sprains, fractures, or other injuries caused by sports like rugby and football. The compression provided by traditional athletic tape can help decrease swelling, reduce pain and prevent further injury.

Kinesio tape 

Kinesio tape is another option for sports taping that has increased in popularity in recent years. KT is used not only for treating sports injuries but also for treating a variety of other conditions. This form of taping has various benefits such as increasing proprioception, reducing muscle fatigue, improving muscle function, reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness, inhibiting pain, reducing edema, and decreasing inflammation. For example, headaches and migraines may be relieved by applying kinesio tape to the back and neck. This treatment has shown to reduce migraine frequency and severity by improving posture and increase of blood flow.

Here are five benefits of this method of taping that is not just limited to the athletic population:

• • Decreases pain

• • Reduces inflammation

• • Improves posture and muscle support

• • May improves athletic performance

Conclusion

Researchers have established the effectiveness of sports taping as it provides structural support, increases circulation, reduces pain, and improves joint and muscle function. Despite the name, it may be beneficial to those outside of an athletic environment as well. For example, there are taping techniques that can assist with those with persistent back pain that arises from extended periods of sitting. Although it can be a great method to manage symptoms, we believe that this is only a supplementary piece of your treatment. Taking an active approach with strengthening areas that are weak and improving range of motion in areas that are limited is generally the best way to improve function. Feel free to speak to any one of our knowledgeable therapists if you have any questions!