Purpose

• Provide support for the wrist and prevent excessive and/or painful hyperextension/hyperflexion movements following ligamentous sprains or muscular strains.
• Reduce pain and stress on musculoskeletal structures to promote recovery and improve stability and function upon return to play.

Pre-Tape Testing

• Determine MOI (traumatic injury versus repetitive overuse strain versus pathological biomechanics/malalignments versus muscular imbalances versus poor footwear).
• Ask if they have been taped before and if there were any issues encountered.
• Rule-out allergies to sprays and/or taping products.
• Inspect the skin for any signs of soft tissue injury (i.e., cuts, abrasions, blisters).
• Check motor, sensation, and circulation (MSC) before execution of the support technique.

Components and Execution Procedures

• Individual Positioning:  Seated position with the closed fist, of their opposite limb, under their elbow. Position their wrist in either a neutral or slightly extended or flexed position (just shy of the painful range of motion).
• Preparation:  Apply a light misting quick-drying adherent or skin toughener to the wrist and hand.  Apply pro-wrap from the distal aspect of the forearm, over the wrist and into the palm. Before passing into the palm, put the pro-wrap on stretch to make it taut and pierce over the individual’s thumb (creating a hole for the thumb to pass through).
• Anchors:  Using 1.5-inch athletic tape, apply two to three anchors around the distal aspect of the wrist joint. Apply another anchor from the distal wrist, across the back of the palm (below the knuckles) and into and around the palm. Finish back on the wrist anchors. This creates a figure-8 pattern.
  • NOTE:  Make sure to fold or tweak the tape as it passes the web of the thumb. As you apply these anchors, ensure that the individual splays their fingers to eliminate issues regarding circulatory constriction.
• Support Strips (Fan):  To prevent hyperextension, apply a strip of tape from the palm anchor medially, to the wrist anchor laterally. Apply another strip from the lateral aspect of the palm anchor to the medial aspect of the wrist anchor. This will create an “X” or fan over the wrist joint. Repeat this process two or three times.  To prevent hyperflexion, apply a strip of tape from the back of the hand anchor medially, to the wrist anchor laterally. Apply another strip from the lateral aspect of the back of the hand anchor to the medial aspect of the wrist anchor. This will create an “X” over the wrist joint. Repeat this process three times.
• Closing Strips:  Finish either of these support techniques by re-applying hand and wrist anchors.  Remove or trim any excess pro-wrap around their knuckles and thumb.

Post-Tape Testing

• Check motor control, sensation, and circulation (MSC) after application.
• Manually assess the wrist to test the integrity of the support technique. In other words, has the support technique limited the movement (s) that are painful?
• Functionally assess the wrist to test the integrity of support technique. This testing should be specific to the individual’s sport or activity and specific to their position in that same sport or activity.