This information sheet is designed to provide general information for physiotherapists, sports medicine practitioners and sports trainers on strapping procedures.
Aims of Strapping
- Prevent injury
- Reduce the severity of injury
- Provide support
- Limit pain
- Limit specific movements at a joint
- Allow desired movements at a joint
- Provide Proprioception
Preparation of the area
- Skin should be clean and dry with no dirt, oil or lotions
- The area should be shaved at least 12 hour prior to taping
- Use spray adhesive if wet weather or if oily skin
- Use underwraps if skin allergies ie foam underwrap or hypo-allergenic undertape
- Where possible tape directly onto the skin to obtain maximum support
- Use an underwrap or micro-foam to protect pressure sensitive areas eg achilles tendon, anterior ankle.
Strapping technique
- Choose right tape for the job. Check out our guide to strapping tapes for more info
- Place the joint in the appropriate position
- If taping over a muscle allow for contraction and expansion of the area
- Avoid continuous taping and tourniquet effect
- Overlap the tape by at least ½ width of previous layer
- Tape from the roll whenever possible
- Lay tape on skin- don’t pull it
- Avoid wrinkles
Post Strapping Checks
- Check for reduced circulation- pinch big toe
- Check for tingling and pins and needles
- Check for stability of taping- quick functional test
- Check for any pressure areas of tape
- Should not be painful
Removal of Tape
- Use tape scissors to reduce skin injury
- Hold skin infront of the tape as you pull tape off.
- Don’t “yank” tape of quickly, especially if skin is waterlogged
- Remove any residual adhesive with tape remover.
- Use a skin conditioner frequently if taping regularly
