Unit 8: Taping and Bandaging

Equipment Terms Protective Equipment: Specialized sports equipment that is used to protect athletes from injury. NOCSAE: The National Operating Committee for Safety of Athletic Equipment- a United States Federal Government agency responsible for testing and certifying the effectiveness of protective sports equipment.

Tape Terms Athletic Tape: Adhesive backed cloth tape that is applied to athletes to prevent or support injuries by preventing or restricting undesired joint motion.

Tape Terms Bandage Scissors: Special scissors with blunt ends that are used to cut tape and bandages from athletes after use without cutting and injuring the athlete’s skin. Lightplast: A stretchable elastic tape that can be torn by hand. Most often used to hold bandages in place or secure protective padding.

Tape Terms Elastikon: A heavy-duty, tough elastic tape that cannot be easily torn by hand, most often requiring bandage scissors to cut. Most often used to restrict unwanted joint range of motion or provide assist and support to injured muscles and tendons. Heel and Lace Pads: Foam or polystyrene pads that are usually coated with Vaseline or skin lube and applied to the athlete’s heel and lace areas when taping the ankle. Designed to reduce friction in the heel and lace areas in order to prevent blisters due to tape rub.

Tape Terms Tape Base: Sometimes referred to as “Tuff-skin” or “QDA”, a sticky adhesive spray or liquid that is applied to the athlete’s skin prior to the application of athletic tape, bandages, or pre-wrap. It helps to keep the tape or bandage in place by preventing slippage while also offering some skin protection.

Tape Terms Pre-Wrap: Non-adhesive foam under-wrap that is applied prior to the application of athletic tape to protect the athlete’s skin from tape irritation. Skin Lube: A petroleum based product similar to thick Vaseline that is applied to heel and lace pads or skin areas in order to reduce friction and prevent blisters.

Taping Terms Anchor: A strip of tape, usually applied first in a taping procedure that provides a base for other strips of tape to attach to on the body. High “C”: Describes the tape strip as having an increased angle as it’s applied; used where the body part has high degree of taper (i.e. more proximal on the lower leg)

Taping Terms Low “C”: Describes the tape strip as having a low angle as it’s applied; used where the body part has a low degree of taper (i.e. more distal on the lower leg) Middle “C”: Describes the tape strip as having a moderate angle as it’s applied; used where the body part has a moderate degree of taper (i.e. middle 1/3 of lower leg)

Tape Terms Overlapping Strips: Tape that is applied so that it overlaps the previous strip by ½ the width of the tape

Injury Terms Shin Splints: A non-medical, catch-all term that refers to pain in the anterior portion of the lower leg; sometimes referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome Hamstring Strain: an injury to the muscle on the posterior thigh involving stretched or torn fibers; also known as a “pulled muscle”

Injury Terms Quadriceps Strain: an injury to the muscle on the anterior thigh involving stretched or torn fibers; also known as a “pulled muscle” Quadriceps Contusion: an injury to the muscle on the anterior thigh involving crushed muscle fibers and internal bleeding; also known as a bruise or a “charlie horse”

Injury Terms Groin Strain: An injury to the hip adductor muscles located on the medial side of the upper thigh; also known as a “pulled” groin Hip Flexor Strain: An injury to the muscles that produce hip flexion located on the anterior hip and thigh; also referred to as a “pulled” hip flexor

Bandaging Terms Ace Bandage: An elastic woven cloth material available in a variety of lengths and widths that is used to wrap an athlete’s injured joint or muscle in order to provide compression, support, or somewhat restrict undesired range of motion. Shoulder Sling: A method of restricting range of motion and/or to immobilize an injury to the upper extremity

Bandaging Terms Hip Spica: The ace bandage wrapping procedure for groin and hip flexor injuries Shoulder Spica: A figure-8 pattern complete with an Ace/elastic bandage to minimize movement of the shoulder (ball-and-socket joint)

Bandaging Reasons to apply ace bandages; Provide injury compression Reduce injury swelling Stabilize to prevent further injury Makes the victim feel better

Shoulder Spica Technique Position athlete like a teapot: arm on injured side is bent with hand near waist; opposite arm abducted Bring wrap up and across proximal humerus then medial towards center of chest, around chest under opposite arm and back up athlete’s back to injured arm Spray upper arm (and possible chest) with QDA or adherent Wrap is looped around upper arm and back down around chest is a figure-8 pattern Use 6 inch double-length elastic wrap, anchor it to upper arm in a down and inward motion End wrap on injured upper arm and secure with elastic tape or a ‘C’ pattern with white tape

Commercial Shoulder Sling Use Have athlete stabilize arm close to trunk Check circulation in fingers Open up pocket of sling and detach the shoulder strap. Slip pocket under and around to catch the injured elbow and forearm Bring strap behind back and over uninjured shoulder then re-attach to pocket Gently adjust and position sling so that elbow and forearm are cradled and lifted Check fingers again for circulation

Ace Bandage Shoulder Sling Have athlete stabilize arm close to trunk Continue wrap down back at angle to catch the injured elbow and bind elbow to trunk Check for circulation in fingers Continue circulars around trunk to secure elbow and arm Anchor 6 inch double-length elastic wrap to athlete’s injured wrist, pulling wrap in outward and upward direction End sling by tucking end into the circulars that hold arm to trunk When anchor is secure to wrist, pull wrap up and over uninjured shoulder Fingers of injured arm should remain exposed for circulation check

Quad Wrap A 6-inch ace bandage is most commonly selected The athlete stands with their weight supported by their non-injured leg, knee straight The athlete puts slight pressure on the toes of the injured leg with their heel lifted off the ground

Quad Wrap The knee of the injured athlete is bent 15-30 degrees The athlete’s thigh is sprayed with QDA or Tuff-skin The wrap is started distally, just proximal to the knee The wrap angles up, around, and then angles back down the leg in continuous spirals

Quad Wrap Approximately ½ of the stretch is pulled out of the wrap as it is applied The wrap overlaps the previous spiral by approximately 1/2 the width of the wrap The wrap progresses proximally and ends in the proximal 1/3rd region of the upper thigh The wrap is secured with athletic tape applied over the end of the wrap in low, middle or high ‘C’ angles

Quad Wrap The athlete’s leg is checked for any signs of circulatory impairment and comfort