Taping

The application of tape in sports plays a significant role in today's athletic performance arena. In professional or collegiate sports, the Olympic Games, or local youth league games, a wide array of taping as well as bracing applications are used to enable athletes to enhance their performance, correct minor functional abnormalities, and participate in sports while recovering from injury.

In 1895, what is now known as the closed basket weave was described by V. P. Gibney. This original ankle taping was first known by the name “Gibney boot” and was an imitation of a procedure performed by army medics in England. Since that first taping application, not only has the practice of taping expanded dramatically, but also the taping and bracing industry has undergone considerable growth; currently, there are more than 10 major tape manufacturers, providing a wide variety of padding, braces, adhesives, and tapes for use by practitioners.

In the field of sports medicine, taping techniques are currently taught in a variety of courses for specialists. For Certified Athletic Trainers, taping and bracing is a curriculum requirement mandated by the Board of Certification. Although it is not a mandatory class for those seeking certification as a Licensed Physical Therapist, there are various continuing education and undergraduate elective courses that candidates can take to gain this knowledge and skill. A sound understanding of the mechanisms of injury, detailed knowledge of anatomy, and continuous practice of effective methods are the keys to learning how to tape and brace correctly. Once the basic skills are learned, they can then be adapted to a variety of real-life situations and applications.

Appendix A provides detailed information on the materials and clear, step-by-step explanations, accompanied by photographs, of the taping and wrapping methods and techniques most commonly used by specialists.