Painless treatment of injured muscles and areas of the musculoskeletal system has become possible using taping technology. An elastic band made of cotton material or kinesio tape is designed to improve blood circulation in problem areas, as well as protect them from re-damage. In certain sports, the same places are often injured. In particular, wrist taping is necessary for those who play volleyball or tennis. Let's take a closer look at kinesio taping of the wrist joint.
The innovative technique has proven itself to be a highly effective and safe remedy for:
- carpal tunnel syndrome;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- muscle sprains and ligament tears;
- joint dislocations due to hypermobility.
Kinesio taping of the hand allows you to fix the damaged area, relieve pain and provide effective support to the joint. Reducing the load on the ligaments shortens the duration of the inflammatory process and reduces swelling in the wrist area.
Stretching
One of the most common wrist injuries. This disorder often occurs in people professionally involved in sports such as volleyball, basketball, golf, discus throwing and other disciplines that require active movements of the arms - if too sharp, sprains occur. In this case, acute pain syndrome, inflammation, aching or tugging pain, swelling, and hematoma occur. If the ligaments are injured, you should definitely seek medical help. Here are some signs you can use to determine that you have a sprain.
Are there any prohibitions?
The upper limb is an important part of the musculoskeletal system, but there are not many nerve endings and blood vessels on its surface. If there is a need to apply tape to your wrist, you should not be afraid of side effects. But there are situations when it is better to refuse the procedure:
- Heat.
- Thrombosis and impaired blood circulation.
- Anemia.
- Allergy to the components of the patch.
- Acute skin diseases.
Before applying the tape, we recommend that you consult a specialist. The doctor will conduct a quick examination and help you make a decision.
Symptoms of injury
Traumatologists divide this damage into three degrees. Each of them has its own manifestations. Let's take a closer look at them.
- 1st degree sprain. In this condition, the ligaments are slightly stretched but not torn. The pain is aching, developing into acute pain when moving.
- 2nd degree sprain. In this case, up to 50 percent of the ligament fibers are torn. The pain is moderate or severe, but more acute than in grade 1, sometimes throbbing due to inflammation.
- Grade 3 sprain. In this case, the ligaments are torn more than 50% or completely, and they are torn from the carpal bone. In this case, there is instability of the joints when moving.
Inflammation is a characteristic sign of a sprain. The intensity of the swelling depends on how badly the arm is damaged. Accordingly, with a 1st degree injury it is minimal, and is clearly expressed with a 3rd degree violation. The fold becomes thick and swollen. In this situation, you need to apply something cold, take an anti-inflammatory drug and keep the limb at rest.
Inflammation in the hands can lead to increased lymph flow, which increases the local temperature. But when there is a fracture, the tissue often remains cold due to poor circulation in this area.
Bruising and bruising are also a characteristic reaction to a sprain. They occur due to the fact that in this area it leaks into the surrounding tissue. As a rule, bruising is observed with 2 and 3 degrees of sprain. As the accumulated blood is washed out of the tissue, the color of the bruise changes from purplish blue to dark blue, then greenish, then yellowish. If a person has a fracture, there will be bruising of any degree.
We have described the symptoms of a sprain, which can be used to distinguish this injury from a fracture. First aid to the victim consists of applying a cold compress, and then you must go to the emergency room yourself or call an ambulance.
Selecting Elastic Bands
The base of the patch is cotton fiber. The second most important component is the sticky layer. Depending on the density and thickness of the glue, there are 2 categories of products:
- Standard. Tension level: up to 140%.
- Reinforced. Tension level: up to 190%.
Manufacturers offer ribbons with different colors and textures. They are produced in the form of skeins and spools and individual strips of fixed length. Proper kinesio taping of the wrist requires complete immobility of the joint. Therefore, the first category is unlikely to be suitable.
It is better to use “advanced” patches. They will provide your hand with peace of mind. As a result, the rehabilitation period will be shortened.
Treatment of the hand for various injuries
First of all, if swelling occurs due to torn ligaments, it is necessary to eliminate it. To do this, use cooling compresses, tight bandages, as well as various gels and ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs internally. If the degree of damage is small, then treatment takes 10-14 days, but for more serious damage, the rehabilitation period can last a month or more. In this case, immobilization of the hands is mandatory, and in modern traumatology taping is successfully used for this. What is this method?
Contraindications
Kinesio taping is a safe procedure if there are no contraindications:
- heart and kidney failure;
- vein thrombosis;
- severe forms of diabetes;
- diseases with skin manifestations (eczema, rash, dermatitis);
- benign and malignant neoplasms;
- advanced age with skin prone to damage;
- open wounds and abrasions in the taping area.
We recommend consulting with your local doctor before applying tapes. You can also test for intolerance to the components of the patch; to do this, apply a piece of tape to your hand for a couple of hours. If there is no reaction, feel free to use the patch!
Features of taping
This is the name for a method of treating injured areas of the human musculoskeletal system by applying special elastic patches - kinesio tapes. This technique first became widespread in professional sports back in the 80s of the last century, and only then came into practice in traumatology, orthopedics, neurology and other areas of medicine. Read more about kinesio tapes in this article.
Kinesio Tape is an elastic tape made of hypoallergenic material (mostly cotton, but models made of nylon or silk are also available). It is intended for application to problem areas of the body, including the hands, to eliminate pain symptoms. Here are the cases in which the use of elastic patches may be prescribed:
- bruises, dislocated joints, torn tendons and ligaments;
- inflammatory diseases - arthrosis, osteoporosis, bursitis and others;
- carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
When applying the tape, the hand is fixed in such a way that the joint is immobilized and the pressure on the muscles is reduced. This effect helps reduce the degree of inflammation and eliminate swelling in the injured area.
The patches are applied according to certain patterns - a specialist knows how to do it correctly. It is he who should be contacted to make a diagnosis, and only he will decide whether to resort to this method of treatment in a particular case. With this treatment, many details are important: the type of patch, the degree of its tension, the nature of the injury. In addition, the procedure, despite its effectiveness, has some contraindications.
Method and technique for gluing tapes on the wrist
Before taping your hands, you need to familiarize yourself with the general recommendations for kinesio taping. The algorithm for correct actions is as follows:
- Tapes on the hand are cut to the required length and shape;
- After preliminary degreasing and drying, the skin is stretched where the tape is applied to the hand;
- The beginning and end of the strip are applied without stretching;
- To fix the tape, you need to rub it thoroughly after application.
The procedure should be carried out at least half an hour before physical activity. Kinesio taping of the wrist is usually performed using muscular (up to 60% tension) and ligamentous (up to 40%) techniques. The tape should be applied to the wrist taking into account the anatomy of the palmar muscles. Two tapes are used: with a tension of up to 40%, the first unloads the long palmar muscle (from the hill near the thumb to the forearm), and the second stabilizes the wrist joint itself.
Taping for wrist joint injuries: benefits
This method is convenient and accessible to use, and also has a noticeable therapeutic effect, as demonstrated by patient reviews and medical practice. Here are the advantages of this technique:
- Ease of use - after the doctor teaches the correct application pattern, you can carry out the procedure yourself at home.
- The elasticity of the patch is almost identical to human skin, so it does not cause discomfort when used.
- No mobility restrictions.
- Breathable hypoallergenic material is suitable even for very sensitive skin.
- Affordable price of kinesio tapes.
What wrist problems can taping help with?
Experts recommend applying tapes in the following cases:
- pain in the hand,
- violation of blood circulation and lymph outflow,
- tendon strain,
- ligament damage,
- rehabilitation in the postoperative period,
- bruises,
- dislocations,
- swelling,
- domestic injuries,
- recovery of athletes after injuries.
Properly performed kinesio tape applications normalize blood circulation, help restore lymph flow and accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues.
Indications and contraindications for wrist taping
In addition to the above-mentioned problems, indications for the procedure are:
- tunnel syndrome,
- hygroma of the wrist,
- rheumatism,
- arthritis,
- chronic sprains,
- rehabilitation after a fracture,
- inflammation,
- low proprioception,
- violation of the position of the wrist joints,
- hematomas due to trauma.
A fixed hand makes fewer movements, their amplitude and level of compression decreases, pain disappears, and nerve conduction is restored.
Contraindications to the application of kinesio tapes are:
- fractures,
- open wounds,
- allergic reactions,
- thrombosis,
- dermatological diseases,
- anemia,
- high body temperature.
Advantages of modern orthoses
Conventional plaster splints crumble and crumble; due to their low reliability, it is necessary to increase the thickness and length of the bandage. In addition, there is often no opportunity to observe the condition of the fingers, namely, pathological rotation of the finger is a sign of an improperly healing fracture.
Light and comfortable immobilizing thermoplastic splints can be used as an option for fixing the hand bones. After heating with a hairdryer, the doctor has the opportunity to model the necessary and suitable shape of the bandage in each individual case. Durable straps, soft breathable lining, anatomical placement of the splint provide maximum wearing comfort. At the same time, there is a full opportunity to monitor the healing of the postoperative wound and care for the skin of the hand and fingers.
Ease of use is of particular importance for fractures of the base of the 1st metacarpal bone, since the period of fixation of these fractures can be more than 2 months. Light plastic orthoses with fixation of the 1st finger can replace plaster for fractures of the 1st metacarpal bone. These products are lighter, more comfortable, and safer than traditional bandages. Breathable material, a reliable plastic splint, and the ability to adjust and adapt to different volumes of the limb make such orthoses increasingly popular.
Basic rules for applying an adhesive bandage
The tape is applied to fat-free skin.
Before installing kinesio tape on your right or left hand, you should familiarize yourself with the general therapy algorithm. By following simple recommendations , you can avoid common mistakes:
- the tape is prepared in advance , determining the desired length and width, cutting off the sharp edges with scissors;
- the skin is degreased with lotion or wiped dry;
- stretch the covers of the problem area, apply a strip and fix it;
- rub the glued patch from the center to the edges for a few seconds
- so that the glue sets and you do not have to re-apply, you should not strain your hand for half an hour after the procedure;
- When fixing the tapes onto the fingers, the muscles as stretched as possible .
Valeria
General doctor
Ask a Question
The strips are used only once as they are not intended for repeated use. When removing, the tape begins to be pulled from the edge in the direction of hair growth. Special liquids that make removal easier help minimize discomfort. If irritation appears on the skin, you must immediately remove the tape and consult a doctor.
