Sport Taping

Course

November 2006
 Table of Contents

• Introduction
o About the SMSCS
o About the CSSP

• Types of Soft Tissue Injuries

• Cycle of Athletic Injury

• Mechanism of Injury

• HOPS Assessment

• Stages of Healing

• Return to Sport Guidelines

• RICE Principle

• Taping Theory
o Purpose
o Benefits
o Common Taping Mistakes
o When not to Tape
o Tape Application
o Common Taping Techniques
o Taping Supplies

• Taping Techniques
o Ankle
o Wrist
o Thumb
o Finger

• Functional Wraps
o Hip

• Wrap-up!

-2-
 Timelines

• Introduction 15 minutes
o About the SMSCS

• Injury Assessment and Management 1 ½ hour

o Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
o Cycle of Athletic Injury
o Mechanism of Injury
o HOPS Assessment
o Stages of Healing
o Return to Sport Guidelines
o RICE Principle

• Taping Theory 1 hour

o Purpose
o Benefits
o Common Taping Mistakes
o When not to Tape
o Tape Application
o Common Taping Techniques
o Taping Supplies

• Taping Techniques 3 hours

o Ankle (90’)
o Wrist (30’)
o Thumb (40’)
o Finger (20’)

• Functional Wraps 1 hour

o Hip

• Wrap-up! 15 minutes

7 hours total

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 1-888-350-5558 www.smscs.ca

Regina Office Saskatoon Office

2205 Victoria Ave. 510 Cynthia St.
Regina, SK., S4P 0S4 Saskatoon, SK., S7L 7K7
Fax: 780.9416 Fax: 975.0891

SPORT SCIENCE PROGRAMS & SERVICES

• Mental Training – Workshops and • Sport Nutrition – Workshops and

progressive consulting are available in
Imagery, Self-talk, Goal Setting,
Focussing Emotional Control, Coping
Strategies, Team Issues, and Practice
Considerations.
services are available in Basic Sport
Nutrition, Fluids for Sport, Pre/Post Event
Nutrition, and Nutrition on the Road,
Tournament & Multi-Event Nutrition, and
Weight Issues.

• Biomechanics – Services are • Exercise Physiology – Workshops

available in analysing technical skills
through the use of Slow Motion Video
Analysis.
• Sport Medicine – Services are
available in Injury Prevention, Injury
Assessment, and Return to Sport
Following Injury.
and services are available in Core
Strength, Concepts in Warm-up/Cool-
down, Flexibility, Metabolic Conditioning
(Aerobic/Anaerobic Systems), Designing
Resistance Training Programs, Weight
Training Technique, Resistance Training,
and Speed & Plyometric Training.

TIER GROUP SERVICE

CSC – SK Canadian Sport Centre Sask. Limited Free Service
Contact the CSC-Sk for specifics
PSGB hp Sk Sport Designated High Performance Limited Free Service
(Canada Games, Provincial, PSGB Designated) Contact the SMSCS for specifics
GR Grassroot Athletes, Schools, Club Teams, Zones
Council, Rec Boards, Health Districts, Recreational $50 / hr
Athletes
• Service Access is based on the SMSCS’s Fiscal Year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). Additional
Service in Excess for the first 2 tiers is available at a cost of $50/hrs long as budget
permits.
• All Travel Expenses, Fitness Testing, Diet or Tais Analysis, and any additional Expenses
are the responsibility of the athlete/team.
• If an athlete or group insist they are within a specific Tier, it is the responsibility of the
athlete/team to confirm the Tier through the PSGB or NSO.

-4-
 EDUCATIONAL & SAFETY PROGRAMS & SERVICES
• Canadian Sport Safety Program -

Sport Fist Aid – 7 hour workshops are
available with content consisting of
Fitness & Injury Prevention, the Medical
Kit, Facilities & Equipment, Emergency
Action Plans, Life Threatening Injuries,
Injury Recognition, and Common Sport
Injuries. Cost to Host a workshop is
$350 + travel expenses if applicable.

Sport Taping - 7 hour workshops are
available with content consisting of Injury
Assessment & Management, Taping
Theory, (benefits, when and why you
tape, common mistakes, taping
techniques, taping supplies), and plenty of
actual taping instruction and practical
taping time on the ankle, wrist, thumb,
finger, and functional wrapping of the hip.
Cost to Host a workshop is $425 +
actual cost of taping supplies used +
travel expenses if applicable.
• Medical Coverage Program - On a
request basis, SMSCS will make every
attempt to provide a variety of medical
personnel, equipment, supplies, and
services to assist sport and recreation
groups provide adequate medical
coverage to their athletes, team, and
host agencies. SMSCS can also assist
in the development of safety policies &
guidelines for sporting events and
organizations. Phone for costs.
• Medical Equipment Loaner/Rental
Program - Medical Equipment is
available for sporting events on a first
come-first serve basis. Some
restrictions apply. Phone for costs.
-5-
• Sport Medicine Saturday - A
multidisciplinary approach to sports
injury management that is accessible to
all practitioners. The first session will
focus on assessment and diagnosis of a
sports injury, while the second session
will follow up with treatment and
rehabilitation techniques. Presenters
will be from a variety of sports medicine
professions. Contact for more
information.
• Drug Education & Awareness
Program -Free Workshops for Major
Games, High Performance, University &
Provincial Teams and schools.
Workshops consist of information on
Banned, Restricted and Illegal
Substances and Methods, Doping
Control Procedures, Alternatives to
Doping, Nutritional & Herbal
Supplements, and Fair Play & Ethics.
The SMSCS can also assist
organizations in developing drug
education policies and programming.
• Dairy Farmers High School Athletics
Nutrition Program - Free Workshop for
High School Teams. Content includes
Foods Groups, Carbs/Proteins/Fats, Pre
& Post Competition Meals, Fluids, and
Milk & Calcium.
• Exercise/Rehabilitation Materials &
Sport First Aid Kits & Supplies -
Various sport first aid supplies, kits, and
SISSEL exercise equipment are
available for purchase. Phone for costs.
 CANADIAN SPORT SAFETY PROGRAM
... a must program for everyone interested and responsible for participant safety during sport &
recreation activities.

WHAT IS IT? The program is made up of 4 components with 3 being

offered by the Sport Medicine Science Council of Saskatchewan:
• Sport First Aid Course
• Sport Taping Course

PROGRAM CONTENT:
• Sport Taping Course - consists of Injury Assessment &
Management, Taping Theory, (benefits, when and why you tape,
common mistakes, taping techniques, taping supplies), and
plenty of actual taping instruction and practical taping time on
the ankle, wrist, thumb, finger, and functional wrapping of the
hip.
• Sport First Aid Course – consists of the Role of the 1st Aider,
Liability, Fitness & Injury Prevention, Facility Awareness,
Protective Equipment, Emergency Action Plan, Medical Kit, Life
Threatening Injuries, Injury Recognition, and Common Injuries.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON PROGRAM SPECIFICS SUCH AS COSTS,

TIME LINES, AND HOSTING REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT THE SMSCS
OFFICE AT 1-888-350-5558
 CANADIAN SPORT SAFETY PROGRAM
PROCEDURES FOR RECEIVING CERTIFICATE OF PROGRAM COMPLETION
We are very pleased to see your participation at one of our courses and look forward to your
involvement in a medical assistance capacity with sport and recreation in your community. Your newly
learned skills will certainly assist you in prevention of injury and ensure knowledgeable actions and
support if an injury occurs. Be sure you know your role!

CERTIFICATE

In order to receive a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION for the Canadian Sport Safety Program, the
Sport Medicine and Science Council (SMSCS) requires that individuals complete the following four
courses:
 SMSCS Sport First Aid Course
 SMSCS Taping Course
 Standard First Aid Course
 Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Course (CPR – Basic Life Support Level A minimum)
The first two components noted above are courses offered by the Sport Medicine and Science Council.
After completing either of these courses offered by the Council, you will receive a wallet sized card
indicating you have taken the Course. The other courses are offered by the Canadian Ski Patrol,
Saskatchewan Heart Foundation, Red Cross, and St John Ambulance. A photocopy of these current
certificates must accompany the form below in order to receive a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.

Name (please print):_____________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________________ Postal: __________________________

Phone # _________________________________

Please accept this as my application to receive my CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. As requested I

have enclosed photocopies of my current:
 Standard First Aid
 CPR – Basic (A, B, or C)
 Taken SMSCS Sport First Aid (Month/Year) _________________
 Taken SMSCS Sport Taping (Month/Year) __________________

Send To:
Sport Medicine and Science
Council of Saskatchewan
510 Cynthia St.
Saskatoon, Sk., S7L-7K7
(fax) 1-306-975-0891

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 TYPES OF SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
Contusions:
Injured Structure:
o Muscle

MOI:
o by a direct blow to the soft tissue
o compression/tension to the underlying blood vessels and soft tissue

Signs and Symptoms:

o Swelling
o Discolouration
o Local Tenderness
o Decreased ROM
o Decreased Strength
o Altered Function and Movement
o Pain with Active, Passive and Resisted Movements

The collection of blood that forms at the site of the contusion is called a Hematoma

Strains:
Injured Structure:
o Muscle/Tendon Unit

MOI:
o Over stretching (tensile loading) of a muscle and tendon
o Excessive muscular contraction against resistance
o Muscle imbalance

Signs and Symptoms:

o Swelling
o Discolouration
o Local Tenderness
o Decreased ROM
o Decreased Strength
o Altered Function and Movement
o Pain with Active and Resisted Movements

-8-
Sprains:
Injured Structure:
o Ligament

MOI:
o Over stretching (tensile loading) of a ligament

Signs and Symptoms:

o Swelling
o Discolouration
o Local Tenderness
o Decreased ROM
o Altered Function and Movement
o Pain with Active and Passive Movements

-9-
 Ligament Injuries

GRADE SIGNS IMPLICATIONS

First Degree • Minimal loss of • Minimal function
structural integrity loss
• No abnormal motion • Early return to
• Little of no swelling training
• Localized tenderness • Some protection
• Minimal bruising may be required

Second Degree • Significant structural • Tendency to

(Moderate) weakening recurrence
• Some abnormal motion • Need to protect
• Solid end feel to stress from risk of further
• Bruising & swelling injury
• Often associated • May need modified
hemarthrosis and immobilization
effusion • May stretch out
further with time
Third Degree • Loss of structural • Needs prolonged
(Complete) integrity protection
• Marked abnormal • Surgery may be
motion required
• Significant bruising • Often permanent
• Hemarthrosis functional instability

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Cycle of an Athletic Injury

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 Mechanism of Injury
Injuries occur because excessive forces are applied to the body, such that the body is unable
to adapt to these forces. The manner and location of these excessive forces is better known
as the Mechanism of Injury (MOI). The MOI will help determine the exact nature and severity
of the injury and the tissues involved.

Injury Classification
The nature of an injury can be classified as either acute or chronic.

Acute
• an injury resulting from a sudden traumatic event

Chronic
• an injury that deteriorates over time due to overuse/ “wear and tear” or under-
recovery
• can be the result of a poorly healed acute injury

In simple terms it is better to know what happened versus what hurts!

• The MOI is the most important information collected based on:
o Body position
o Direction of force
o Environmental factors
o Equipment
o Location of force
o Intensity of force
• Based on the information gathered, one needs to relate this information to the
mechanical forces that are acting on the affected structures. There are three
general types of mechanical force that may result in injury:
• Compression
 external
 internal
• Tension
 stretch
• Shearing
• Detailed knowledge of the MOI will allow for efficient and accurate assessment of
the injury
• Detailed knowledge of the MOI will allow an understanding of the injury pattern and
factors that lead up to the injury
• This will allow for modification of these factors to allow for safe return to
practice/competition and decrease the risk of re-injury

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Possible Mechanisms of Injury
• Collision with another athlete
• Collision with and object/missile
• Infringement of the rules
• Dangerous techniques
• Force overload
• Environmental factors
• Equipment factors
• Training Errors
o Over-use or Under-recovery
• Change in training surface
• Change in equipment
• Change in technique or training

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 H O P S Assessment
History, Observation, Palpation, and Special Tests.

History:
1. What kind of disorder or symptoms? pain, weakness, stiffness, numbness/tingles,
shortness of breath, dizzy etc.
2. Site or area of symptoms? Are they radiating anywhere else?
3. Onset of symptoms: mechanism of injury, did they hear or feel anything when it
happened (crack or pop), when did it happen?
4. Course of symptoms: improving, worsening, same
5. Behavior of symptoms: severity, irritability, limitation to function

In other words:
What is the problem?
Where is the problem?
How and when did it happen?
Did you feel anything when it happened?
How is it feeling now? worse, same, better
What does it hurt to do?

Remember: You need to find out the following if you do not already know it
-has this happened before and when
-do you have any other health or medical conditions
-are you on any medications

Observation:
Look for bony abnormality, discolouration, swelling, bleeding, deformity

Palpation:
Develop a protocol to ensure palpation of all structures- example palpate from above injury
down, from below injury up, bone, muscle tendon, joints. Be specific on what you are
touching. Take note of pain, swelling, crepitus, deformity, etc.

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Special Tests:
Active: Assesses contractile and non contractile tissues.
• Have the athlete move the injured joint in all planes of movement.
Positive Findings:
• Decreased ROM
• Increased Pain
• Weakness

Passive: Assesses non contractile tissue.

• You move the injured joint in all planes of movement without athlete assistance
Positive Findings:
• Decreased ROM
• Increased Pain

Resisted: Assesses contractile tissues.

• Perform isometric resisted tests in all planes of movement.
o Slowly build up resistance to a maximum contraction if able.
Positive Findings:
• Increased Pain
• Weakness

Relate findings from your HOPS assessment to the return to sport guidelines. An athlete
MUST meet the return to sport guidelines in order to return to play. If the athlete is unable to
return to play, manage the athlete with the RICE principle and refer them to a health care
professional.

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 Return to Sport Guidelines:
Physiological Healing Constraints:
- Has rehabilitation progressed to the later stages of the healing process
Pain Status:
- Has pain disappeared, or is the athlete able to play within his/her own levels of pain
tolerance
Swelling:
- Is there still a chance that swelling may be exacerbated by return to activity
Range of Motion:
- Is ROM adequate to allow the athlete to perform both effectively and with minimized
risk of reinjury
Strength:
- Is strength, endurance or power treat enough to protect the injured structure from
reinjury
Neuromuscular control/Proprioception/Kinesthetia:
- Has the athlete “relearned” how to use the injured body part
Cardiorespiratory Fitness:
- Has the athlete been able to maintain cardiorespiratory fitness at or near the level
necessary for competition
Sport-specific Demands:
- Are the demands of the sport or a specific position such that the athlete will not be at
risk of reinjury
Functional Testing:
- Does performance on appropriate functional tests indicate that the extent of recovery
is sufficient to allow successful performance
Prophylactic Strapping, Bracing, Padding:
- Are any additional supports necessary for the injured athlete to return to activity
Responsibility of the Athlete:
- Is the athlete capable of listening to his/her body and of knowing enough not to put
themselves in a potential reinjury situation
Predisposition to Injury:
- Is this athlete prone to reinjury or a new injury when not at 100%
Psychological factors:
- Is the athlete capable of returning to activity and competing at a high level without
fear of reinjury
Athlete Education and Preventive Maintenance Program:
- Does the athlete understand the importance of continuing to engage in conditioning
exercises that can greatly reduce the chances of reinjury

th
Essentials of Athletic Training (4 Edition) by Daniel D. Arnheim and William E. Prentice. WCB McGraw-Hill

- 16 -
Stages of Healing

- 17 -
 RICE Principle
R- Rest
If the on field assessment determines that the athlete is unable to meet the return to play
guidelines, they should be removed from further activity until cleared to return to play by a
health care professional.

Resting Positions for Acute Injury Management:

1. Sprains
- keep the ligament in a shortened position (within the limits of pain)

Ankle: tensor in pain-free dorsiflexion

Knee: tensor the knee in pain-free extension or use a knee immobilizer brace
Shoulder: use an appropriate sling to put the shoulder/arm in a pain-free supported position
Elbow: use an appropriate sling to put the shoulder/arm in a pain-free supported position
Wrist: tensor the wrist/hand in a pain-free neutral position

2. Strains
- put the muscle in a pain-free lengthened position

3. Contusion
- place the injured muscle in a pain-free lengthened position

Indications for use of crutches:

1. Unable to weight bear due to pain
2. Unable to walk with-out a limp

I- ICE
- Ice is applied immediately to the injury for 10-20 minutes depending on the location of
the injury. Ice areas of less tissue density for shorter periods of time.
- Ice is reapplied every 2 hours.
- Ice is used exclusively for the first 72 hours.

C-COMPRESSION
Compression is applied with a tensor bandage and a pressure pad. Compression is very
important in the management of swelling and the inflammatory response. Horseshoes are
used around the ankle, while square pads are used on contusions and strains. The tensor is
applied from distal to proximal and is left on at all times except when sleeping AND ICING.

E-ELEVATION
As much as possible, the injured area should be kept elevated. Do not leave the injured part in
a gravity-dependent position. Place cushions from the couch between the mattresses to keep
the leg elevated overnight.

- 18 -
 Practical: RICE Principle
Thigh Contusion
• 6 inch tensor
• square foam pad
• tape or clips to anchor

Hamstring Strain
• 6 inch tensor
• square foam pad
• tape or clips to anchor

Ankle Sprain
• 4-6 inch tensor
• horseshoe pad
• tape or clips to anchor

- 19 -
Purpose of Taping
Injury Prevention
- may decrease chance of injury occurring
- may decrease severity should injury occur

Acute Injury Management

-support, stabilize, and compress an injured limb or joint
-limit harmful movements

Return to Activity
-support an injured structure
-limit harmful movements
-pain free functional movements
-early resumption of activities
-prevent further injury or re-injury
-secure protective pads

Benefits of Taping
Swelling is controlled
Circulation is enhanced through movement
Prevents:
- worsening of initial injury
- compensatory injury to adjacent parts
- atrophy from non-use
Allows continued body conditioning and strength often lost during post-injury inactivity
Increases proprioceptive feedback

Common Taping Mistakes

Wrinkles/rolling of tape
Tape applied too tight
Windows in tape job
Natural anatomical boundaries ignored
Failure to use proper anchors
Failure to use sound biomechanical principles

When Not to Tape

When further assessment is required
After an acute injury has occurred
If there is functional disability
Swelling is present
After cold application
Pre-puberty athlete
At night when sleeping
If prohibited by the sport
Any time you are unfamiliar or unsure of the athlete’s condition

- 20 -
Tape Application
Fully evaluate injury and determine the severity
- which structures are injured
- degree of injury
- stage of healing

Prepare area for taping- clean, dry, shaved, cuts covered

Check athlete’s taping history- allergies, previous taping

Position the athlete for taping

- structure to be supported with tape should be positioned so that the injured structure is
under the least amount of tension
- give the most stability and comfort to the athlete
- need to consider: mechanism of injury
biomechanical forces of the sport
anatomy of injured area
- ensure athlete maintains position through entire tape job… that is why speed of
application is a consideration

Choose the correct tape for the taping job

- elastic tape for contractile tissue injuries, for compression taping
- non-elastic tape for injuries to non-contractile structures

Use correct taping techniques

When tape job is complete

- is the taping effective: gently manually stress the joint movement to check for
adequate limitation at the extremes of ROM and in the direction of injury
- is the taping functional: perform increasingly difficult movements and sport-
specific skills

- 21 -
 Common Taping Techniques
Anchors:
- initial strips of tape which provide the base or foundation of the technique
- all other strips of tape should either start or finish on the anchors

Finishing and Cover Tape Strips:

- applied to hold the functional strips in place
- can be placed right over top of the initial anchors

Functional Strips:
Checkreins:
- prevent a segment or joint from moving into a painful ROM by taping it to an adjacent
uninjured structure to stabilize the injury yet allow for some degree of movement

Figure 8’s:
- describe the figure 8 motion of tape on a limb, which is used to restrict movement of a
joint

Locks:
- can be used in conjunction with figure 8’s to support joints in a neutral position

Spica:
- continuous wraps of tape or tensor that encircle a limb and more stable body part,
forming a figure 8

Spirals:
- continuous strips of tape that wrap around the limbs between upper and lower anchors
like stripes on a candy cane

Stirrups:
- continuous strips of tape that run down from the leg anchors, loop under the heel and
back up the opposite side of the leg

- 22 -
 Taping Supplies
Adhesive Athletic Tape
-white zinc oxide tape 3.8cm
-effective for holding protective coverings in place and providing support to injured joints
-good tape: winds off roll easy, tears easily, and contains pores if held up to light

Adhesive Knit
-Coveroll
-breathable, good for holding non-adherent pads and 2nd Skin in place
-adheres well even when wet

Cloth Wrap
-ankle wrap
-used for light prophylactic support over an athletic sock
-used on the wrist to limit extension

Heel and Lace Pads

-anti-friction pads placed under tape anywhere the tape passes over superficial tendons
-Skin-Lube is applied to pads to further protect the tendons from tape friction

Lubricating Ointment
-Skin-Lube, Vaseline
-used to decrease friction between tape and skin, essential in high friction areas

Bandage Scissors
-blunt end so they will not cut skin when used for removing tape

Adhesive Elastic Tape

-utilized with any taping technique that encircles a muscle
-flexible, does not constrict blood flow to areas distal to the injury
-can be used to hold protective pads in place
-various sizes

Felt/Foam
-used to make pads, apply compression, or to make doughnut pads to spread forces
away from and injury sight

Moleskin
-sticky on one side, fuzzy on the other
-applied to “hot spots” to reduce skin friction, prevent blister formation
-can be applied inside footwear or padding

- 23 -
2nd Skin
-breathable hydrogel-placed over skin wounds or irritated areas to keep area moist, soft
and prevent rubbing
-best held in place with adhesive knit

Tape Adherent
-Tuff-Skin
-fast drying aerosol spray that forms an adhesive layer protecting skin from contact with
tape irritants
-ensures tape and bandages will stick, even on a sweating athlete

Tape Cutter
-Shark
-for quick removal of tape, virtually impossible to “accidentally” cut skin
-use natural crevices and soft tissue of the extremity to follow

Tape Remover Solution

-De-hesive
-used to remove all remnants of tape and tape adherent to prevent an adhesive build-up
which can lead to skin irritation

Tensor Bandages
-used to apply pressure over soft-tissue injuries and for holding compression or
doughnut felt pads in place
-choose a size appropriate for the injured area

Under wrap
-Pro-wrap, Pre-wrap
-applied before tape to prevent skin breakdown and tape adhesion to body hair
-tape provides most support when directly on the skin, therefore under wrap is not
appropriate for all situations

- 24 -
 Ankle Sprains
Taping Technique:
• Closed Basket Weave Technique
• used to provide external support to ankle ligaments, limit range of motion and
increase joint proprioception during activity

Injury:
• lateral (outside) ankle sprain

MOI:
• examples- landed from rebound on another players foot, twisted ankle while
changing directions
• inversion
• plantar flexion

Injured Structures:
• anterior talofibular ligament
• calcanealfibular ligament
• posterior talofibular ligament

Position for Taping:

• ankle is held in dorsiflexion and eversion (up and out)

Anchors:
• a heel and lace pad with lubricant is placed on the top of the ankle and over the
Achilles tendon
• one anchor placed below the ankle joint
• 2-4 anchors placed above the ankle joint but distal to the bulk of the calf muscle

Functional Strips:
Stirrups-
• from inside to outside of the ankle crossing under the heel
• followed by a horseshoe to anchor the stirrup
• repeated approximately 3 times overlapping the previous stirrup by ½

- 25 -
Figure Eight-
• starts on the inside ankle bone, wraps around the back of the calf to the outside
ankle bone, crosses over the top of the foot to the inside arch, follows under the
foot coming up on the outside of the foot, crosses over the top of the foot to the
inside ankle bone
• repeated approximately 3 times

Heel Locks-
• starts on the outside ankle bone, crosses the top of the foot to the inside arch,
angles back toward the heel as it crosses the bottom of the foot to the outside of
the heel, runs around the back of the heel to the inside ankle bone
• from here the tape is directed across the top of the foot to the outside of the foot,
angles back toward the heel as it crossed the bottom of the foot to the inside of
the heel, runs around the back of the heel to the outside ankle bone

Finishing Strips:
• repeat original anchors

Test for effective and functional taping technique:

• Does the taping technique limit the painful movements?
• Can the athlete perform sport specific movements with the tape?

Practical Experience

Louisiana ankle wrap

Supportive taping technique for lateral (outside) ankle sprain

- 26 -
ANKLE TAPE – CLOSED GIBNEY BASKETWEAVE
(RIGHT ANKLE)
OUTSIDE VIEW

OUTSIDE/INSIDE VIEWS (as labeled)

OUTSIDE VIEW

- 27 -
 Apply
Heel lace
pads to
prevent
irritation from
tape. Place
these pads
over tendons
and bony
prominences
to prevent
cuts and
abrasions.

Place the foot

in dorsiflexion
and eversion.

Apply
Pro Wrap. It is
preferred that
the tape be
applied
directly to the
skin but, for
some athletes
Pro Wrap is
used. Pro
Wrap can
prevent
irritation
caused by the
tapes
adherence

- 28 -
 Place the foot
in dorsiflexion
and eversion.

Place 3
anchor strips
above the
ankle joint.
Making sure
to overlap by
a half. Then
complete an
anchor strip
on the distal
part of the
foot.

Apply a
vertical stirrup
strip from the
medial aspect
of the leg and
pull under the
heel to the
lateral side of
the ankle.

- 29 -
 Place a
horizontal
stirrup over
the vertical
stirrup from
the medial to
lateral part of
the ankle.
Remember to
overlap by a
half. Continue
alternating
between
vertical and
horizontal
stirrups 3-4
times.

Figure 8’s and

heel locks are
now applied.
The figure 8
starts on the
lateral aspect
of the ankle.

- 30 -
 Continue over
the top of the
foot down
towards the
medial arch.
Follow
underneath
the foot and
up towards
the lateral part
of the ankle

Continue over
the top of the
foot down
towards the
medial arch.
Follow
underneath
the foot and
up towards
the lateral part
of the ankle.

- 31 -
 Carry on with
the tape over
the top of the
foot to the
medial ankle
bone. Then
back to the
starting point.

Now a Heel
Lock must be
placed on the
ankle. The
tape starts at
the lateral part
of the ankle
and over top
the foot.

- 32 -
 The tape
continues
down through
the medial
arch. Angle
the tape back
toward the
heel.

The tape
should cross
the bottom of
the foot at an
angle and
wrap around
to the lateral
ankle just
behind the
lateral ankle
bone.

- 33 -
 The tape
should then
cover around
to the medial
ankle bone
and finish on
the top of the
foot.

The tape
should
continue and
and wrap the
other side,
these 2 ankle
strips will
equal one
heel lock.

- 34 -
 The other half
of the heel
lock
continues.
The finished
product
should include
3-4 alternating
heel lock and
figure 8
patterns
(depending on
the weight of
the person
and the
amount of
restriction
needed).

Repeat the
anchors to
finish the tape
job.
Get the
athlete to test
the tape job
and see how
functional and
comfortable it
is.

- 35 -
 Use a tape
cutter to
remove tape.
Start cutting
the tape
where it is
already loose.

- 36 -
 Wrist Sprains
Taping Technique:
• Wrist Fan
• used to provide external support and limit extension of the wrist

Injury:
• wrist hyperextension sprain

MOI:
• examples- blocking in football, landing on outstretched arm
• hyperextension

Injured Structures:
• collateral ligaments of the wrist

Position for Taping:

• wrist in a neutral position held in slight extension with fingers spread

Anchors:
• 2-3 anchors are placed mid-forearm overlapping by 1/2
• a second anchor is placed in the palm of the hand

Functional Strips:

Check Rein-
• apply a check rein on the palm side of the wrist from the palm anchor to the
forearm anchor
• this can be repeated overlapping by a ½ for added strength

X Fan-
• place 3-4 strips of tape in an “X” pattern over the palmar side of the wrist from
anchor to anchor

Test for effective and functional taping technique:

• Does the taping technique limit the painful movements?
• Can the athlete perform sport specific movements with the tape?

Practical Experience
Wrist Hyperextension Technique

How would you apply this type of taping technique to an elbow hyperextension injury?

- 37 -
 Begin by
placing
anchors
around the
hand and wrist.
Overlap the
wrist anchors
by a half.

Place a strip of
tape from
anchor to
anchor over
the palmer
surface of the
hand.

- 38 -
 To limit
hyperextension
take two strips
of tape and
connect the
anchors
diagonally.
This will create
an X pattern
across the
palm of the
hand.

The
completion of
the X, take a
strip of tape
and lay it down
from the thumb
side to the
pinky finger
side.

- 39 -
 Place another
X pattern over
the first, and
overlap by a
half.

Apply strips of
tape over the
anchors to
complete the
procedure.

- 40 -
 Thumb Sprains
Taping Technique:
• Thumb Spica
• used to provide external support and limit extension of the thumb joint

Injury:
• thumb sprain

MOI:
• examples- thumb hyperextended while blocking or catching a basketball
• hyperextension

Injured Structures:
• ligaments of the metacarpal phalangeal joint

Position for Taping:

• thumb is held in the “hand shake” position

Anchors:
• an anchor is placed around the wrist
• a second anchor is place on the original anchor on the back of the hand, through the web
space to the palm of the hand pinching the tape as it passes through the web space
• a final anchor is placed around the thumb

Functional Strips:
1/2 Figure Eight-
• place tape on the inside of the thumb
• gently pull the tape around the thumb crossing over the top of the thumb to adhere both
ends of the tape to the anchor
• one end is applied to the anchor on the palm, other to the anchor on the back of the hand
• be careful not to apply too strong a pressure around the thumb
• apply another ½ figure eight to the thumb overlapping the original by ½ fanning out as they
reach the anchor
• continue repeating ½ figure eights until the thumb is enclosed

Finishing Strips:
• repeat wrist and palm original anchor

Test for effective and functional taping technique:

• Does the taping technique limit the painful movements?
• Can the athlete perform sport specific movements with the tape?

Practical Experience
Thumb taping technique

- 41 -
 Place an
anchor on the
wrist.

Place another
anchor across
the palm.
Pinch the tape
to prevent
irritation of the
thumb
webbing.

- 42 -
 The anchor
should wrap
around the
back of the
hand as well

Place a third
anchor
around the
proximal
phalanx of the
thumb.

- 43 -
 Begin a strip
of tape from
the palmer
surface of the
thumb. Place
the strip so
equal lengths
of the tape on
either side of
the thumb

Begin a figure
8 pattern with
one of the
strips.

- 44 -
 Finish the
Figure 8
pattern with
the other side
of the strip

A top view of
the Figure 8
pattern
around the
thumb.

- 45 -
 Place another
figure 8
pattern over
the thumb.
Make sure to
overlap by a
half and work
down towards
the wrist

Proceed with
the Figure 8
pattern 3-4
times.

- 46 -
 A top view of
the finished
figure 8
pattern

Secure the
figure 8
pattern by
placing short
strips
horizontally
over them.
(over the
metacarpo-
phalangeal
joint from the
palmer to the
dorsal side of
the hand

- 47 -
 Place
additional
strips over the
anchors to
finish the
procedure

A top view of
the finished
product. Note
that it is
completely
enclosed.

- 48 -
 Finger Sprains
Taping Technique:
• Buddy Taping
• used to provide external support for an unstable joint

Injury:
• finger sprain

MOI:
• examples- finger hyperextended when catching a football, blocking in volleyball

Injured Structures:
• ligaments of the interphalangeal joint

Position for Taping:

• pinky and ring finger together
• index and middle finger together

Functional Strips:
Buddy strips -
• a narrow strip of tape is applied below the injured finger joint wrapping around
the neighboring finger
• a narrow strip of tape is applied above the injured finger joint wrapping around
the neighboring finger

Test for effective and functional taping technique:

• Does the taping technique limit the painful movements?
• Can the athlete perform sport specific movements with the tape?

Practical Experience

Buddy Taping Technique

- 49 -
 Support the
unstable
finger by
taping it to a
healthy
adjacent
finger. Place
tape on the
proximal and
distal phalanx.
Keep the
joints free of
tape to allow
some motion
of the fingers
while still
providing
support.

- 50 -
 Functional Wraps

A hip spica can be applied to provide assistance to the contractile (muscle/tendon) tissue while
limiting range of motion (ROM). The position for wraping and the specific application of the
elastic wrap are essential to achieve the following:
• prevent movement (stretch/strain) into a painful ROM by positioning the injured
muscle in a shortened position
• assist movement of the injured muscle by applying the tensor bandage in such a
way that it assists with muscle function

Wrapping Technique:
• Hip Spica
• used to limit ROM and assist muscle function

Injury:
• hip flexor strain

MOI:
• examples- sprinting, kicking a soccer ball
• excessive stretching or tension

Injured Structures:
• iliopsoas (hip flexor) muscle

Movement to Prevent:
• hip extension, stretch position

Movement to Assist:
• hip flexion, lifting leg

Position for Wrapping:

• forward lunge position with increased weight bearing on the front leg
• front leg turned in

Wrap Application:
• begin on the leg encircling the thigh from outside to inside
• continue encircling the leg moving towards the hip with an overlap of ½
• the spica continues across the thigh, crossing over the front of the abdomen to the hip
crest, around the back of the torso to the outside, then crosses the front of the hip back
down to the thigh
• continue with spicas finishing the wrap on the thigh
• reinforce and finish wrap with elastic adhesive tape

- 51 -
Test for effective and functional wrapping technique:
• Does the wrap limit the painful movements?
• Does the wrap assist with flexing the hip?
• Can the athlete perform sport specific movements with the wrap?

Practical Experience

Hip Flexor Spica

Glut/Hamstring Strain Spica

- 52 -
 Start in a
lunge
position, step
forward with
the injured
leg.

Have the front

leg turned in
and bearing
weight.

- 53 -
 Begin by
wrapping the
thigh from
outside to
inside. Fold
the underlying
tensor end
over the top
layer to create
a bunny ear.

Continue
encircling the
leg and
remember to
overlap by a
half.
Bring the
tensor over
the front of
the hip and
over the
abdomen.

- 54 -
 Wrap the
tenor around
the back torso
and bring it
back down
around the
thigh.

Continue the
wrap around
the waist
again and
finish on the
thigh.

- 55 -
 Hold the
tensor with
adhesive
elastic tape.
(To prolong
the life of the
tensor Pro
Wrap can be
used under
the adhesive
elastic tape

The tensor is
held with 2
strips of
adhesive
elastic tape.

- 56 -
 Finish the
wrap by
applying 1-2
strips of
adhesive
athletic tape.
This will help
hold the
elastic tape in
place.

- 57 -