Knowing how to tape and wrap is probably one of the most important things a sports medicine student can learn. This skill can be used to add additional protection onto athletes, as well as treatment for new/recovering injuries.
The basic reason of taping/wrapping is to provide extra support, stability and compression. If you are taping an injured athlete, you should ALWAYS have a certified trainer/team physician assess the injury. This is done to provide a guide for the medical staff when they are choosing the design/structure of tape to use.
COMMON SUPPLIES USED IN TAPING: ATHLETIC TAPE: Comes in a variety of sizes/colours for several uses. Sizes range from ½ inch to 6 inches! Most common size is 1 ½ inches wide and 15 feet long! Athletic tape has a low tendency of provoking allergies Should be stored in a cool and mostly dry place
UNDERWRAP: A foamy material used as a base before taping to help reduce irritation. Normally 2 ¾ inches wide by 30 yards long. Advantages of this wrap include, promoting athletic comfort, holds the heel/lace pads in place, acts as a barrier from the tape for athletes allergic to the tape. Disadvantages include, the additional cost, and the loss of stability when taping. SPRAY ADHERENT: Aerosolized substance used when taping to create a sticky surface for tape/underwrap to stay in place. The better the grip the tape has, the better the protection the athlete will have! HEEL AND LACE PADS: Used to help prevent pinching/blistering in friction-prone areas of the skin. Pads are normally 3 inches by 3 inches by 1/16 inch thick.
TAPE REMOVAL TOOLS: Removing tape is done by using special scissors designed to easily move under the tape and cut through it without causing irritation to the athlete.
When choosing tapping supply consider the following:
Is it better than the product currently being used?