Taping and Splints in Sport
There will always be a risk of injury during the practice of sports, as much in amateurs as in professionals. Thankfully, there are many ways to reduce those risks and optimize the return to sports. One of those methods is the usage of therapeutic adhesive bandages (best known as tapings) in order to support the different structures implicated after going through an injury. Structural tapings and dynamic tapings are the most used in the field of sports.
Who Are the Experts in Taping?
Multiple health professionals are trained to apply tapings, including physiotherapists and sports therapists. The latter is, nevertheless, known as being the best in those techniques. In fact, learning those different techniques is included in their college courses. By regularly working in the field, they can execute thousands of tapings throughout their careers, often inventing new ones if need be. Sports therapists are solicited in the practice of multiple sports, namely football, which requires a high number of tapings on multiple athletes (sometimes up to 50 a match). Therefore, the therapist has to be fast and efficient in order to optimize the athlete’s time (and the coaches’) without compromising their physical health.
Before applying taping, a quick assessment of the injury is necessary, especially if this is the first meeting between the therapist and athlete. Allergy history and skin condition must be taken into account to avoid any discomfort. In addition, a sensory and circulatory assessment must be carried out quickly by the therapist to ensure that the taping is not too tight. This assessment also applies to splint adjustment.
Structural Taping
Structural taping is the best-known form of taping. It consists of stabilizing a joint (like the ankle, the shoulder, or the knee) by limiting one or more movements that can cause pain or a relapse. For example, during an ankle sprain inversion, there are two main ligaments that are strained plantar flexion (when the foot is flexed towards the front) or inversion (when the foot is turned inwards). The application of taping with appropriate tension can therefore limit these movements in order to avoid stressing the healing ligaments, thereby reducing or eliminating pain and preventing further tearing of the affected structures. Care must be taken not to restrict movement too much, so as not to impair the range of motion required for the athlete to perform the athletic tasks demanded by their sport. That said, before allowing the athlete to go out and practice their sport, the therapist should assess their taping by manually testing the joint’s new range of motion and asking the athlete if there is any pain or discomfort. It is often advisable to have the athlete perform an athletic task before leaving the treatment room, as discomfort can only be felt on the field.
Even though many studies have approved the usage of tapings for injury prevention, others relate to a loss of structural support of the taping during the activity. In fact, according to the quality of the tape used, the tension in the tape can diminish after 10 minutes of effort. Some studies have shown that most of its structural integrity is lost after 30 minutes. Consequently, it is essential to select a high-quality tape, apply an appropriate amount of pressure, reevaluate the taping once it is possible, and finally, not hesitate to use it a second time if deemed necessary.
When it comes to choosing the right equipment, it’s important to respect anatomical limits to avoid causing further injury when taping. For example, when supporting a large muscle such as the quadriceps, it’s important not to contour the muscle with athletic tape. Elastic tape is recommended to avoid muscle spasms.
Dynamic Taping
Dynamic taping is another form of taping, often better known as some of its brands, like KT Tape or Rock Tape. In contrast to athletic taping, this one offers no structural support and can be worn many days, even in the shower. It has two main purposes: proprioceptive feedback and lymphatic drainage, the former being the most used related to sports purposes.
To start off, taping is used for athletes with stabilization and muscle control difficulties. The principle is simple: the band that is stuck to the skin stretches during a movement, providing immediate and further retroaction, which lets the deficient muscles contract at the right time, which favors better control of the affected region. Evidently, postural and control muscular exercises have to be included in the treatment plan in order for it to be effective and recuperate 100% of function.
Secondly, for athletes that are affected by chronic muscle tensions, dynamic taping can be used to favor lymphatic drainage. In this case, a long band is applied along the muscle, often with extension branches at the extremities to elevate the dermis, dissociating it from more profound structures. This encourages the lymphatic vessels to increase drainage, reduce swelling, and consequently, pain.
Conclusions and Precautions
The usage of tapings is an efficient way to enable people affected by an injury to practice their sport or activity without being completely healed. However, it is important to consider the time and phase of healing and the time of injury before resuming our activities. When coming back too soon, a tape won’t prevent a relapse. That is why it is recommended to consult a health professional before a return to sport to minimize the risks of worsening or creating new injuries.