1. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 11: Bandaging and Taping Techniques

2. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Routinely used by coaches, athletic trainers and athletes for various reasons –Provide compression to minimize swelling –Injury prevention –Provide additional support to an injured structure Application requires skill and should be left up to an athletic trainer While bandaging and taping skills are not difficult, trained individuals with advanced experience should perform taping/bandaging

3. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Taping supplies are often expensive and may not fit institution’s budget Tape application can be time consuming –May detract from coach’s pre-game/practice preparation if forced to tape Tape vs. Bracing – effectiveness in providing support and preventing injury Should never be used as a substitute for rehabilitation –Must work to correct deficiency/weakness and use tape/brace as an adjunct

4. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elastic Bandages Applied for a variety of purposes –Compression of acute injuries – limit swelling –Secure dressing or ice pack –Provide support to injured soft tissue structure Gauze, cotton cloth, elastic wrapping Length and width vary and are used according to body part and size Sizes ranges 2, 3, 4, 6 inch width and 6 or 10 yard lengths

5. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elastic Bandage Application Hold bandage in preferred hand with loose end extending from bottom of roll Back surface of loose end should lay on skin surface Pressure and tension should be standardized Anchor is created by overlapping wrap –Start anchor at smallest circumference of limb

6. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Body part should be wrapped in position of maximum contraction More turns with moderate tension vs. fewer turns with maximum tension Each turn should overlap by half to prevent separation Begin distally and move proximally Circulation should be monitored when limbs are wrapped

7. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elastic bandages can be used to provide support for a variety scenarios: Ankle and foot spica Lower leg spiral bandage (spica) Groin support Shoulder spica Elbow figure-eight Hand and wrist figure- eight

8. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Ankle/Foot Spica

9. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Lower Leg Spica and Hip Spica

10. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Shoulder Spica

11. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elbow Figure ‘8’

12. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Hand/Fingers Figure ‘8’

13. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-elastic White Tape Great adaptability due to: –Uniform adhesive mass –Adhering qualities –Lightness –Relative strength Help to hold dressings and provide support and protection to injured areas Come in varied sizes (1”, 1 1/2”, 2”) When purchasing the following should be considered:

14. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Tape Grade –Graded according to longitudinal and vertical fibers per inch –More costly (heavier) contains 85 horizontal and 65 vertical fibers Adhesive Properties –Should adhere regularly and maintain adhesion with perspiration –Contain few skin irritants –Be easily removable without leaving adhesive residue and removing superficial skin

15. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Winding Tension –Critically important –If applied for protection tension must be even

16. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elastic Adhesive Tape Used in combination with non-elastic tape Good for small, angular parts due to elasticity. Comes in a variety of widths (1”, 2”, 3”, 4”)

17. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Storing Adhesive Tape Store in a cool place Stack so that the tape rests on its flat top or bottom to avoid distortion of the roll

18. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparation for Taping Skin surface should be clean of oil, perspiration and dirt Hair should be removed to prevent skin irritation with tape removal Tape adherent is optional Foam and skin lubricant should be used to minimize blisters

19. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Tape directly to skin for maximum support Prewrap (roll of thin foam) can be used to protect skin in cases where tape is used daily Prewrap should only be applied one layer thick when taping and should be anchored proximally and distally

20. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Proper taping technique –Tape width used dependent on area –Acute angles = narrower tape Tearing tape –Various techniques can be used but should always allow athletic trainer to hold on to roll of tape –Do not bend, twist or wrinkle tape –Tearing should result in straight edge with no loose strands –Some tapes may require cutting agents

21. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

22. Rules for Tape Application Tape in the position in which joint must be stabilized Overlap the tape by half Avoid continuous taping Keep tape roll in hand whenever possible Smooth and mold tape as it is laid down on skin Allow tape to follow contours of the skin

23. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rules for Tape Application (cont.) Start taping with an anchor piece and finish by applying a locking strip Where maximum support is desired, tape directly to the skin Do not apply tape if skin is hot or cold from treatments

24. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Removing Adhesive Tape Manual Removal –Always pull tape in direct line with body (one hand pulls tape while other hand presses skin in opposite direction Use of scissors and cutters –Be sure not to aggravate injured area with cutting device Using “Tape Remover” –Alcohol-based liquid useful for removing adherent –Works best when scrubbing with towel or cloth –Wash tape remover off with soap and water

25. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Waterproof tape –Swimmer, diver, or waterpolo player might require application of adhesive tape –If waterproof tape is not available, duct tape can be used as an effective substitute

26. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Common Taping Techniques

27. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Arch Taping

28. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Great Toe Taping

29. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Fractured Toes

30. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Closed Basket Weave Ankle Taping Used for newly sprained ankles Also utilized for chronically weak ankles

31. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Achilles Tendon (prevent Achilles over-stretching)

32. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Knee Taping Collateral Ligament

33. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elbow Restriction (Prevents elbow hyperextension)

34. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Wrist Taping (Protects and stabilizes badly injured wrist)

35. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Sprained Thumb (Provide support to musculature and joint)

36. © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Finger and Thumb Checkreins