Sports Taping - Knee

April 8, 2008

In fast-moving sports where the player has to move quickly and often with fast direction changes makes the game exciting to watch and exhilarating to play. Unfortunately,  it also makes it a high-risk sport for knee injuries. Running with sudden stops, cutting side to side, jumping, and pivoting can injure your knee. Taping up the knee helps reduces the risk of injury.

Figure 1:

1    Apply Elastowrap (a type of non-rigid tape) a couple of inches above the knee to form the anchor strips for the rigid tapes.

 

 

 

 

Figure 2:

1.    Repeat the Elastowrap a couple of inches below the knee. It is important that the distance for the wraps above and below the knee are the same.

 

 

 

 

Figure 3:
1.    Starting at a point on the lower anchor strip just slight off to the front of the knee cap, while pulling upwards, apply the rigid sports tape. The tape should cross a point at the side of the knee.

 

 

 

 

Figure 4:
1.    Like before, apply the rigid sports tape upward. The point where the two sports tapes cross is the spot where we wish to provide the maximum amount of support. This forms an ‘X’ with the center at the side of the knee.
2.    If the distance of the anchor strips in step 1 and 2 are not more or less equal from the knee, you will end up with ‘X’ that is skewed.

 

 

Figure 5:

1.    We will finish off the cross with a third strip down the middle. Again pulling the rigid tape upwards as we apply it. Repeat stes 3-5 slightly off the original 3 strips of rigid tape for additional support.

 

 

 

 

Figure 6:

1.    Repeat steps 3-5 for the other side of the knee.


If you have questions on this topic, feel free to email our physiotherapists.


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