Knee accidents are a standard ailment for athletes of all ranges. Whether or not you are a weekend warrior or knowledgeable athlete, you are in danger for knee ache and damage. One approach to stop and deal with knee accidents is to wrap your knee with sports activities tape. Taping your knee can present help and stability, which will help to scale back ache and swelling and stop additional damage. Moreover, sports activities tape will help to enhance proprioception, which is your physique’s consciousness of its place in area. This will help you to keep away from awkward actions that might result in damage.
If you happen to’re new to taping your knee, it is vital to be taught the correct approach. Taping your knee incorrectly can really worsen your ache and damage. That is why it is vital to comply with these directions rigorously. Additionally, you’ll want to seek the advice of with a medical skilled you probably have any questions or issues about taping your knee.
Earlier than you begin taping your knee, you will want to collect a number of provides. This contains sports activities tape, scissors, and a knee wrap. Yow will discover all of those provides at your native sporting items retailer. Upon getting your provides, you are prepared to begin taping your knee. Merely comply with the directions beneath. First, you will have to anchor the tape on the prime of your knee. To do that, tear off a chunk of tape that’s about 12 inches lengthy. Fold the tape in half lengthwise, after which place it on the highest of your knee, with the sticky aspect down. Subsequent, you will have to wrap the tape round your knee in a figure-eight sample. To do that, begin by wrapping the tape across the exterior of your knee, after which cross it excessive of your knee. Subsequent, wrap the tape across the inside your knee, after which cross it excessive of your knee once more. Proceed wrapping the tape round your knee on this method, till you might have reached the underside of your knee. Upon getting reached the underside of your knee, you’ll be able to safe the tape by tearing off a chunk of tape that’s about 6 inches lengthy. Fold the tape in half lengthwise, after which place it on the underside of your knee, with the sticky aspect down. Lastly, you’ll be able to wrap the knee wrap round your knee to offer further help.
Supplies and Preparation
Supplies
To wrap a knee with sports activities tape successfully, collect the next supplies:
Preparation
Earlier than making use of tape, comply with these steps to make sure optimum outcomes:
Pores and skin Preparation
Cleanse the realm across the knee completely with alcohol wipes to take away any filth, oils, or particles. Dry the pores and skin utterly to advertise tape adhesion.
Checking Mobility:
Assess the vary of movement and stability of the knee joint earlier than taping. Establish any areas that will require further help or safety.
Figuring out Tape Placement:
Plan the position of the tape strips based mostly on the precise operate or help wanted. Take into account the path of forces and potential stress factors.
Creating the Base
Lay a 4-inch strip of tape horizontally just under your kneecap. That is the bottom layer on your taping.
Subsequent, take two 18-inch strips of tape and place them vertically throughout your knee joint, overlapping the bottom layer by about half their width. These vertical strips will present stability to your joint.
Locking the Vertical Strips
To safe the vertical strips in place, take two 6-inch strips of tape and place them horizontally throughout the highest and backside of the vertical strips. These locking strips will assist to forestall the vertical strips from sliding off your knee throughout exercise.
Moreover, you’ll be able to add two smaller 3-inch strips of tape diagonally throughout every vertical strip to additional improve stability. This can assist to forestall the vertical strips from stretching or tearing.
Suggestions for Making a Robust Base
- Use a high-quality sports activities tape that’s designed for joint help.
- Apply the tape with pressure to make sure a cosy match, however not so tightly that it constricts your motion.
- Overlap the sides of the tape by about 50% to create a robust and safe base.
| Tape Strip | Size | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Base strip | 4 inches | Horizontally beneath the kneecap |
| Vertical strips | 18 inches | Vertically throughout the knee joint |
| Locking strips | 6 inches | Horizontally throughout the highest and backside of the vertical strips |
| Diagonal strips | 3 inches | Diagonally throughout every vertical strip |
Making use of the Horizontal Strips
After the anchoring strip is in place, you are prepared to use the horizontal strips. These strips will present help and compression to the knee joint.
To use the horizontal strips:
1. Place the roll of tape horizontally throughout the again of your knee, just under the patella.
2. Convey the ends of the tape across the sides of your knee and cross them in entrance.
3. Wrap the tape round your knee twice, overlapping every flip by about 50%.
4. End by securing the tape with a chunk of athletic tape that’s wrapped across the knee vertically.
Here is a desk that summarizes the steps for making use of the horizontal strips:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Place the roll of tape horizontally throughout the again of your knee, just under the patella. |
| 2 | Convey the ends of the tape across the sides of your knee and cross them in entrance. |
| 3 | Wrap the tape round your knee twice, overlapping every flip by about 50%. |
| 4 | End by securing the tape with a chunk of athletic tape that’s wrapped across the knee vertically. |
Wrapping the Stirrups
The stirrups are used to safe the tape to the knee and supply further help. To wrap the stirrups:
1. Place the stirrup: Place the stirrup across the prime or backside of the knee, relying on the kind of damage.
2. Tighten the stirrup: Pull the stirrup tight and tuck it below the tape.
3. Cross the tape: Convey the tip of the tape throughout the stirrup and wrap it across the reverse aspect of the knee.
4. Lock the tape: Convey the tip of the tape again throughout the stirrup and tuck it below the tape.
Repeat this course of with the opposite stirrup, guaranteeing that it’s positioned symmetrically to the primary stirrup.
Here’s a desk summarizing the steps for wrapping the stirrups:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Place the stirrup across the knee. |
| 2 | Tighten the stirrup and tuck it below the tape. |
| 3 | Cross the tape and wrap it across the reverse aspect of the knee. |
| 4 | Lock the tape by bringing it again throughout the stirrup and tucking it below. |
Reinforcing the Prime
Upon getting the tape in place, you’ll be able to reinforce the highest of the knee by wrapping the tape across the exterior of the knee and crossing the ends excessive of the knee cap. This can assist to maintain the tape in place and supply further help to the knee.
Steps
1.
Begin by taping the within of the knee, just under the knee cap.
2.
Convey the tape up and over the skin of the knee, crossing the ends excessive of the knee cap.
3.
Convey the tape again down and across the inside the knee, securing it in place.
4.
Repeat this course of a number of instances, till the highest of the knee is securely taped.
5.
To offer further help, you too can wrap the tape across the again of the knee. To do that, begin by taping the within of the knee, just under the knee cap.
–
| Convey the tape up and over the again of the knee. | Cross the ends excessive of the knee cap. | Convey the tape again down and across the inside the knee, securing it in place. |
| Repeat this course of a number of instances, till the again of the knee is securely taped. |
Anchoring the Ends
6. Securing the Tape:
| Course | Approach |
|---|---|
| Horizontal Reinforcement | Apply a second layer of tape horizontally in the midst of the knee, perpendicular to the vertical strips. |
| Prime Anchor | Wrap the tape across the prime of the knee, crossing over the ends of the vertical strips. Safe the tape by folding it over itself on the skin of the knee. |
| Aspect Anchors | Create two anchors on all sides of the knee by wrapping the tape across the sides and again to the entrance. Safe the tape by overlapping it on the entrance of the knee. |
| Backside Anchor | Repeat the highest anchor approach on the backside of the knee, crossing over the ends of the vertical strips and folding the tape over itself on the skin of the knee. |
7. Regulate Tightness:
Make sure the tape is comfortable however not too tight. The knee ought to have some flexibility whereas nonetheless being supported.
8. Extra Precautions:
Keep away from taping immediately over any open wounds or pores and skin irritations. Examine the knee periodically to make sure circulation is just not restricted.
Extra Help with Determine-Eight Tapes
Determine-eight taping is a complicated approach that gives further help and stability to the knee. To carry out this method:
1. Begin by making use of a strip of tape horizontally throughout the highest of the knee, simply above the kneecap.
2. Take the ends of the tape and produce them down the perimeters of the knee, crossing them over one another on the backside. Proceed the tape throughout the again of the knee, then deliver the finally ends up the opposite aspect, crossing them once more.
3. Repeat steps 2-3, utilizing a brand new strip of tape every time, till you might have no less than three figure-eight loops across the knee.
4. Safe the ends of the tape by wrapping them across the prime and backside of the knee.
| Advantages of Determine-Eight Tapes | Cautions | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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