General Guidelines for Taping

Chapter 3 General Guidelines for Taping


The choice of taping technique requires specific knowledge and observation skills. The following points are essential to ensure an effective, efficient taping application:



• a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the area to be taped


• evaluation skills to assess:


a. structure(s) injured

b. degree of injury

c. stage of healing

• appropriate tape and choice of technique


• consideration of sport-specific needs (if applicable)


• be prepared to adapt your technique to suit individual needs


• adequate preparation of the area to be taped


• effective application of tape


• testing on completion of taping.


Deciding when to tape an injury, what techniques to apply for maximum effectiveness and how to test a completed job may seem a daunting task to the novice. To simplify and facilitate the process, three major stages of taping application with useful checklists follow. These will help the taper to quickly assess all the important factors critical to each stage. These stages are:



• PREAPPLICATION


• APPLICATION


• POSTAPPLICATION


Using the following outline as a guide, specific checklists for a particular sport or event may be devised with the assistance of someone who is familiar with the unique requirements of the sport/event and athletes involved therein.





























































PREAPPLICATION CHECKLIST [✓] page 27
image Practical? page 27
image Logical? page 27
image Materials? page 27
image Assessment page 27
   image Joint range and muscle flexibility page 28
   image Problem areas page 28
   image Sport-specific items page 28
image Starting position page 28
APPLICATION CHECKLIST [✓] page 29
image Skin preparation page 29
image Choice of tape page 29
image Tape application page 29
image Taping techniques page 29
image Quality control page 30
POSTAPPLICATION CHECKLIST [✓] page 31
image Monitoring of results page 31
image Functional testing page 31
image Removal of tape page 32


PREAPPLICATION CHECKLIST



PRACTICAL: IS TAPING GOING TO WORK FOR THIS INJURY?




• Will tape adhere effectively to the body part?


• Does the area need to be prepared, e.g. cleaned and shaved?


• Is the athlete’s skin damp or excessively oily?


• Are environmental factors likely to make taping impractical (weather or sport factors, i.e. rain, cold temperatures, high humidity; diving or swimming injury)?


• An athlete should not leave the treatment room with a taping job that does not stick; their false sense of security could lead to further injury.



LOGICAL: IS TAPING THE CORRECT PROCEDURE?




• Has the injury been adequately assessed and properly diagnosed? If you do not have the appropriate assessment skills, ensure that someone who does evaluates the athlete: which structures are injured, degree of injury, stage of healing?


• Is it possible that the athlete has an unhealed fracture, an unreduced dislocation or subluxation, etc. which would require medical attention? If so, taping would not be the appropriate intervention.


• In cases of concussion, profuse bleeding, abrasion, laceration, etc. IMMEDIATE FIRST AID and a trip to the emergency room are the treatments of choice – not taping.



imageNOTE:


Should an athlete continue to participate in their sport with an incorrectly diagnosed injury, serious tissue damage could be the result and lead to a more complicated recovery process.



imageTIP:


A first aid course is highly recommended and in many cases is mandatory when involved in the treatment of sports-related injuries.



imageTIP:


Practising on simulated injuries helps improve decision-making and taping skills.



• MATERIALS: WHAT IS NEEDED?


A quick review of the type and quantity of taping materials needed for the specific injury will facilitate a swift, organized taping job. Having the materials ready and within reach will maximize efficiency.

< div class='tao-gold-member'>

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailEpilogue Taping Objectives Basic Pathology Wrist and Hand Knee and Thigh Foot and Ankle

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Tags:
Jul 18, 2016 | Posted by in MANUAL THERAPIST | Comments Off on General Guidelines for Taping

Full access? Get Clinical Tree
Get Clinical Tree app for offline access