Strapping/Taping

Strapping, taping, and kinesiology taping are therapeutic techniques used in physiotherapy to support and stabilise muscles and joints, reduce pain, and enhance rehabilitation.

Principles of Strapping and Taping

1. Support and Stability: Provides structural support to injured or vulnerable areas.
2. Injury Prevention: Helps prevent further injury by restricting harmful movements.
3. Pain Reduction: Alters pain signals through proprioceptive feedback.
4. Facilitation of Healing: Supports normal movement patterns to aid recovery.
5. Proprioception Enhancement: Improves awareness of joint position.

Short-term Benefits

1. Immediate Pain Relief: Reduces discomfort by stabilising injured areas[2][4].
2. Swelling Reduction: Helps decrease oedema through compression[2].
3. Improved Joint Stability: Provides immediate support to joints[4].

Long-term Benefits

1. Injury Prevention: Reduces the risk of re-injury by supporting proper movement patterns[2].
2. Enhanced Recovery: Facilitates quicker return to activity by supporting healing tissues[4].
3. Chronic Pain Management: Supports ongoing management of pain through improved biomechanics[3].

Conditions Treated

• Muscle strains and sprains
• Tendonitis (e.g., tennis elbow)
• Joint instability (e.g., ankle sprains)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Postural issues

What to Expect from Treatment

1. Assessment: Evaluation of the injury or condition to determine the appropriate taping technique.
2. Application: Taping is applied strategically to support specific muscles or joints.
3. Duration: Kinesiology tape can be worn for several days, while strapping may be adjusted more frequently[6].
4. Combination with Other Therapies: Often used alongside other treatments like manual therapy or exercises[1][2].
5. Patient Education: Instruction on self-application techniques for continued use at home.

Strapping, taping, and kinesiology taping provide both immediate and long-term benefits by stabilising injuries, reducing pain, and enhancing recovery processes in a therapeutic context.

Citations:

• [1] https://www.healthline.com/health/kinesiology-tape
• [2] https://www.physio.co.uk/treatments/physiotherapy/taping.php
• [3] https://www.physio-pedia.com/Kinesio_Taping
• [4] https://www.physio-pedia.com/Taping
• [5] https://physiosupplies.ie/collections/strapping-tape
• [6] https://physiosupplies.ie/collections/kinesio-tape
• [7] https://firstaidshop.ie/products/kinesiology-tape
• [8] https://propelphysiotherapy.com/massage-therapy/what-is-deep-tissue-massage/