Hand taping is a foundational technique used widely in sports medicine and rehabilitation to provide external support for the hand and wrist. The primary purpose is to limit excessive joint movement, offer mechanical stabilization to injured ligaments and muscles, and protect the area from further strain during activity. Self-taping is intended only as a temporary measure or for minor strains and is never a substitute for a professional medical diagnosis or personalized treatment plan from a healthcare provider.
Essential Supplies and Skin Preparation
Effective hand taping requires selecting the correct materials, typically involving both rigid and elastic adhesive tapes. Rigid athletic tape provides the strong, mechanical lock needed to restrict joint movement significantly. Elastic adhesive bandage (EAB) or cohesive tape, which has some stretch, is used for compression, securing anchor strips, or conforming to the body’s contours. Pre-wrap, a thin foam under-layer, protects the skin from irritation, friction, and blistering caused by the tape’s strong adhesive.
Skin preparation is important for maximizing adherence and preventing dermatological issues. The area must be thoroughly cleaned to remove oils, lotions, and perspiration, which interfere with the adhesive bond. Shaving dense hair is recommended, as this prevents painful removal and ensures the tape lies flush against the skin for optimal support. Once the skin is clean and dry, pre-wrap should be applied in a single layer over sensitive or hairy areas to create a protective interface before the adhesive tape is applied.
Techniques for Stabilizing Fingers and Knuckles
Stabilizing the small joints of the fingers typically uses “buddy taping,” which leverages an adjacent, uninjured finger as a natural splint. This method is appropriate for minor sprains or strains where complete immobilization is not the goal. To perform this, place a small piece of padding, such as cotton or foam, between the fingers to prevent skin maceration. The two fingers are then secured together with short, narrow strips of athletic tape placed above and below the knuckle nearest the palm, leaving the joints uncovered to allow bending.
Stabilizing the knuckles, or metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, requires a complex pattern to limit hyperextension or lateral movement, often needed after a minor impact injury. This technique involves securing anchor strips around the wrist and just below the fingers before applying support strips. Cross-strips, or figure-eights, are then applied across the back of the hand, running diagonally between the wrist and finger anchors to create a supportive mesh over the knuckles. This crisscrossing pattern helps hold the metacarpal heads in place, offering external support to the joint capsule and collateral ligaments.
After applying tape to any digit, check circulation using the capillary refill test. This involves gently pressing on the fingernail until the color blanches and timing how quickly the pink color returns, which should occur in less than two seconds. Taping should never be applied in a continuous, circumferential spiral around a finger or the hand, as this can create a tourniquet effect if the hand swells. Applying tape in individual, overlapping strips is the correct method to prevent the risk of constricting blood flow.
Taping the Wrist and Thumb for Support
Taping the wrist and thumb addresses larger joint complexes that require stability. Wrist taping is initiated by placing two non-constricting anchor strips: one around the distal forearm and a second around the palm, avoiding the knuckles. Support strips are then applied between these anchors in a basketweave or fan pattern to limit excessive flexion and extension movements. The structure is then “locked down” by covering the support strips with additional anchor strips at the forearm and palm, ensuring the tape provides firm tension opposing the painful movement.
The “thumb spica” is commonly used to protect the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), often injured in hyperextension or abduction. This technique starts with a wrist anchor and uses support strips applied in a figure-eight pattern that loops from the wrist, around the thumb’s main joint, and back to the wrist. The tape should not be pulled tightly across the web space between the thumb and index finger, as this can cause irritation. Tape the wrist and thumb in a functional position, meaning the hand should be held slightly cupped with the thumb gently abducted.
Safety Guidelines and When to Seek Medical Help
Monitoring the hand after taping is necessary to ensure the application is not too tight. Signs of restricted circulation or nerve compression include tingling, numbness, throbbing pain, or a change in skin color to blue or pale white. If the skin below the tape becomes cold or swells, the tape must be removed immediately and reapplied with less tension. Removing the tape safely requires blunt-ended tape scissors, often called “shark cutters,” which slide under the tape without risking a cut to the skin.
While taping provides temporary relief, it cannot fix a significant injury, making it important to know when to consult a medical professional. Seek medical attention if you notice a visible deformity in the hand or wrist, experience severe pain that prevents hand use, or cannot move a joint through its normal range. Persistent or worsening swelling, bruising, or pain that does not improve within a day or two of rest and taping indicates the need for a thorough medical examination to rule out a fracture or high-grade ligament tear.