Athletic taping using adhesive tape is a popular treatment for repetitive stress injuries, and especially for those resulting from sports activity. Taping is commonly used by sports physiotherapists for unstable knees or ankles. It is also a popular option to treat soft tissue injuries such as muscle or ligament sprains in ankles, knees and other joints. Compared to using an orthopedic brace, taping helps the patient maintain or improve proprioception in an injured joint. When used on athletes, taping will interfere less with the range of motion and overall freedom of movement. It is a low profile alternative to bracing that you can wear under clothing or footwear. You can also wear it while competing or training. In general, and maybe for many of these reasons, serious athletes prefer athletic taping to orthopedic bracing as a therapeutic or preventative solution. However, taping can also pose problems to be overcome. In this post, we compare the pros & cons of taping vis-a-vis bracing. We also suggest which situations are more suitable for either technique.
Athletic taping brings many key benefits relative to bracing. You can more easily adapt it to the individual shape of the patient’s ankle, knee joint, etc. In addition, there are many types of tape with varying strengths. You can use athletic tape to provide different levels of support to an injured joint. A rayon backed strapping tape like DynaPro Rigid Athletic Tape provides the highest level of support available from an athletic tape. Zinc oxide athletic tape like DynaPro Porous Zinc Oxide Tape provides an intermediary level of support. Light elastic tape such as DynaPro StretchLight provides a somewhat lower level of support albeit with a higher comfort level. The strength of the tape to apply depends, among other things, on the severity of the injury. Stronger tapes are generally required for more severe injuries.
From a cosmetic point of view, athletic tape comes in many different colors. You can choose the color to match a team’s colors or just to satisfy individual fashion taste.
Compared to custom orthopedic bracing, athletic taping is an inexpensive option. It may cost just a few dollars per roll whereas the cost of custom bracing may run to hundreds of dollars or more.
Perhaps the key disadvantage of athletic taping is the fact that it requires much more specialist training than bracing does. It is not something that parents or coaches should do without the required training. Incorrect taping may actually exacerbate an injury and so do more harm than good.
Taping may also require considerable time to apply, particularly when treating larger or more contoured body parts.
In addition,. taping does not provide support for as long as orthopedic bracing. The athlete’s movement and perspiration tend to cause the binding elements in the tape to break down. As a result, even a good taping job will eventually require replacement. This can and sometimes does happen more than once during a match or training session.
Finally, although relatively cheap on a “per roll” basis, a large team can go through hundreds or thousands of rolls per season, making it a more expensive proposition than it may initially appear to be.
Athletic taping stands as a tried-and-true method in the sports world, aimed at bolstering joint and muscle stability. As athletes continue to embrace its benefits, it becomes crucial to explore both the positives and negatives surrounding this practice. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the advantages and drawbacks of athletic taping, including a critical consideration—its diminishing effectiveness after approximately 20 minutes.
Pros:
Joint Stability: Athletic taping is renowned for providing immediate joint stability. It is commonly used to support vulnerable areas, such as ankles and wrists, reducing the risk of injuries like sprains or strains during physical activity.
Injury Prevention: By limiting the range of motion in specific joints, athletic taping can help prevent injuries. This is particularly beneficial for athletes recovering from previous injuries or those with chronic joint instability.
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Pain Reduction: Taping can assist in alleviating pain associated with certain injuries or conditions. It helps by reducing excessive movement and pressure on injured tissues, promoting a more comfortable and controlled range of motion.
Enhanced Proprioception: Athletic taping enhances proprioception, the body's awareness of its position in space. This heightened awareness can improve overall coordination and control, particularly in athletes involved in sports that demand precise movements.
Cons:
Skin Irritation: One of the primary drawbacks of athletic taping is the potential for skin irritation. Adhesive materials in the tape may cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin, especially with prolonged use.
Dependency: Some athletes may become overly reliant on taping for joint support. This dependency can lead to weakened muscles and joints over time, as the body becomes less adept at providing its natural support.
Limited Evidence for Effectiveness: Despite its widespread use, the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of athletic taping is not entirely conclusive. While it may provide short-term benefits, its long-term impact on performance and injury prevention is still debated among experts.
Restriction of Movement: While intended to stabilize joints, athletic taping can also limit natural joint movement. In sports that require a full range of motion, such as gymnastics or swimming, excessive taping may hinder performance rather than enhance it.
Diminished Effectiveness Over Time: Perhaps one of the most critical considerations is that athletic taping tends to lose its effectiveness after about 20 minutes. The adhesive properties weaken, and the support provided may diminish, making it crucial for athletes to reevaluate the necessity of reapplication during extended activities.
Conclusion:
In contemplating the pros and cons of athletic taping, it is essential to recognize its time-sensitive nature and potential drawbacks. While it can offer immediate benefits, athletes should remain mindful of its diminishing effectiveness over time. Consulting with healthcare professionals and considering individual needs and the nature of the sport can help strike a balance, ensuring that athletic taping is employed judiciously and effectively.
Works Cited:
Zwiers, R., Vuurberg, G., Blankevoort, L., Kerkhoffs, G. M. M. J., & [Author], T. (). Taping and bracing in the prevention of ankle sprains: current concepts. Journal of ISAKOS, 1(6), 304-310.
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