Medial Collateral Ligament Taping

Indications A medial collateral ligament taping can be applied to athletes with an injury or weakness medially or laterally to provide extra support to the ligament. Possible injuries would include medial and lateral collateral ligament tears. The purpose of this tape job was to provide extra support for a baseball pitcher with a possible medial ligament tear/injury.

Proximal anchor with powerflex Heel lift When performing this tape job have an athlete stand up on a higher surface with their heel resting on an object, for example a roll of athletic tape. To start, two support strips are applied using powerflex one proximal around mid thigh, and the other distal around about mid calf.

Elasticon pulling distal to proximal Next using 3 inch elasticon, a strip is applied starting from the distal lateral leg up to medial proximal leg so that it hugs the knee without covering the patella.

Using this same technique, a second strip is applied this time starting proximal and lateral down to distal medial anchor strip as pictured.

Final strip is placed along the medial leg. The third strip will go from the distal anchor vertical to the proximal anchor where the previous strips crossed.

Powerflex anchors This process is repeated twice and when it is finished the anchors are repeated proximal and distal using powerflex to hold down the ends of the elasticon.

Athletic tape strip Finally, the powerflex is closed off with one continuous strip of athletic tape to secure the tape job.

Summary Athlete stands on heel lift Anchor strips applied proximal and distal Elasticon strips applied proximal-distal and distal-proximal from medial to lateral and lateral to medial crossing over the medial collateral ligament Elasticon strip placed in center of the crossing elasticon strips and the process is repeated for a total of two layers Ends of the elasticon are closed off with the two powerflex anchors The medial collateral ligament taping is closed off with athletic tape for security