Sports Tape & Strapping
The Benefits of Taping in Physiotherapy
Understanding Its Effects on Rehabilitation and Injury Management
In the dynamic field of physiotherapy, taping techniques have emerged as valuable adjuncts to traditional treatment modalities, offering a versatile and effective means of managing various musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. From providing support and stability to promoting pain relief and enhancing proprioception, taping plays a multifaceted role in optimising patient outcomes. In this blog post, we'll delve into the effects of taping in physiotherapy, exploring its therapeutic mechanisms, applications, and benefits for rehabilitation and injury management.
Understanding Taping in Physiotherapy:
Taping involves the application of adhesive tapes to the skin in specific patterns and tensions to achieve therapeutic objectives. Various types of tapes, including rigid tape, kinesiology tape, and cohesive bandages, are utilised based on the desired outcomes and patient needs. The effects of taping can be categorised into several key areas:
Support and Stability: Taping provides external support and stability to joints, muscles, and ligaments, reducing excessive movement and enhancing biomechanical efficiency. This is particularly beneficial in the management of acute injuries, such as ankle sprains or ligament strains, as well as in preventing re-injury during rehabilitation or athletic activities.
Pain Relief: Taping can help alleviate pain by providing mechanical support, reducing inflammation, and altering sensory input to the nervous system. By applying tension to the skin and underlying tissues, taping may activate mechanoreceptors, leading to a modulation of pain perception and an analgesic effect.
Improved Proprioception: Taping techniques, especially those utilising kinesiology tape, can enhance proprioceptive feedback and kinesthetic awareness, promoting better movement control and coordination. By stimulating sensory receptors in the skin and muscles, taping helps improve joint position sense and movement accuracy.
Facilitated Muscle Activation: Taping may facilitate muscle activation and recruitment patterns by providing external cues and support to weakened or inhibited muscles. This can be beneficial in neuromuscular re-education programs aimed at restoring optimal muscle function and movement patterns following injury or surgery.
Lymphatic Drainage: Certain taping techniques, such as those using kinesiology tape, can aid in lymphatic drainage and edema reduction by lifting the skin and promoting fluid movement within the interstitial spaces. This is particularly useful in managing swelling and inflammation associated with acute injuries or post-operative recovery.
Applications and Considerations:
The application of taping techniques in physiotherapy is highly individualised and tailored to the specific needs and goals of each patient. Physiotherapists carefully assess factors such as the nature of the injury, stage of healing, biomechanical alignment, and patient preferences when determining the most appropriate taping approach.
Summary:
Taping is a versatile and effective intervention in physiotherapy, offering a range of benefits for rehabilitation, injury management, and performance enhancement. Whether it's providing support and stability, alleviating pain, improving proprioception, or facilitating muscle activation, taping techniques play a valuable role in optimising patient outcomes and promoting functional recovery. By understanding the therapeutic mechanisms and applications of taping, physiotherapists can harness its potential to enhance movement, reduce pain, and empower patients on their journey to improved health and well-being.
When should you use strapping/sports tape?
Taping and strapping can be used to restrict potentially harmful movements. This is best done with an adhesive non-stretch/rigid tape.
The two main applications are:
Injury prevention: Examples of this may be taping a shoulder in an AFL player or an ankle in a basketball player. Although the tape inevitably loses its rigidity through the course of a game, taping has been shown to improve proprioception. Whether it’s considered placebo or not, many athletes feel the strapping provides the support and confidence they need to play at a high level.
Injury management: Tape can also be applied during the rehabilitation phase. Using the example of a basketball player with a rolled ankle, taping can eventually be used to immobilise the joint and allow the sprained ligament(s) to heal. Taping may also allow the individual to walk with less pain.
Elastic tapes, such as K-Tape, do not provide any joint restriction. Instead, their application can be to facilitate movement. As with rigid tape, the benefits seem to be related to increases in proprioception.
Taping is never used in isolation as we do not want to rely on external supports for joint stability. Progressive active rehabilitation is always the gold standard. But tape may have a place in giving you the extra confidence you need to play.
Rigid Tape vs Kinesiology Tape
Understanding the difference between Kinesiology Tape & Rigid Tape
In the realm of physiotherapy, taping techniques have become integral tools for managing a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Rigid tape and kinesiology tape are two commonly used types, each serving distinct purposes in rehabilitation and injury prevention. In this post, we'll explore the characteristics, applications, and benefits of rigid tape and kinesiology tape, shedding light on their respective roles.
Rigid Tape
Characteristics:
Rigid tape, also known as athletic tape or zinc oxide tape, is a stiff, non-elastic tape typically made from cotton fabric with an adhesive backing. It offers strong support and stabilisation to joints and muscles.
Applications:
Joint Stability: Rigid tape is commonly used to immobilise and support injured joints, such as the ankle, knee, or wrist, during the acute phase of injury or as a preventive measure in high-impact sports.
Muscle Protection: It can be applied over muscles prone to strains or overuse injuries to provide compression and reduce muscle vibration during activity.
Postural Correction: Rigid tape can assist in maintaining proper alignment and posture by providing external support to weakened or fatigued muscles.
Benefits:
Stability: Rigid tape offers strong support and stability to joints, reducing the risk of excessive movement and further injury.
Immobilisation: It can effectively immobilise injured joints or muscles, allowing for optimal healing and protection.
Durable: Rigid tape is highly durable and resistant to movement, making it suitable for activities where high levels of support are required.
Kinesiology Tape
Characteristics:
Kinesiology tape is a thin, elastic tape made from cotton or synthetic materials with an acrylic adhesive that allows for stretch and flexibility. It mimics the properties of human skin and muscles.
Applications:
Pain Relief: Kinesiology tape can help alleviate pain by providing gentle compression and support to injured tissues, promoting circulation and reducing inflammation.
Muscle Activation: It can facilitate muscle activation and improve muscle function by providing sensory feedback and enhancing proprioception.
Lymphatic Drainage: Kinesiology tape is often used to reduce swelling and promote lymphatic drainage following injury or surgery.
Range of Motion: It can assist in improving joint range of motion by providing support without restricting movement.
Benefits:
Flexibility: Kinesiology tape is highly flexible and allows for a full range of motion, making it ideal for dynamic activities and sports.
Skin-Friendly: The adhesive used in kinesiology tape is hypoallergenic and designed to be gentle on the skin, reducing the risk of irritation or allergic reactions.
Versatility: Kinesiology tape can be applied in various configurations and tensions to target specific muscles, joints, or areas of pain.
Summary:
Rigid tape and kinesiology tape are valuable tools in the physiotherapist's toolkit, each offering unique benefits and applications in rehabilitation and injury management. While rigid tape provides strong support and stability to joints, kinesiology tape offers flexibility, pain relief, and enhanced muscle function. Understanding the characteristics and indications for each type of tape allows physiotherapists to tailor their treatment approach to meet the specific needs of their patients, promoting optimal recovery and performance. Whether it's providing stability during high-impact activities or facilitating pain relief and muscle activation, both rigid and kinesiology tape play vital roles in enhancing movement, function, and overall well-being.
References: Brukner & Khan, Clinical Sports Medicine
