FUNCTIONAL TAPING
What is functional taping?
Functional taping is a type of partial immobilization technique used for tendon, muscle and ligament injuries. It is called “partial immobilization” because the bandage slightly limits mobility in the direction of movement in which pain occurs or could aggravate the injury. On the other hand, it does allow the rest of the movements of the joint.
The advantage of this type of bandage is that it avoids the disadvantages of complete immobilization (loss of muscle mass, risk of loss of bone density or osteoporosis, circulation problems, thromboembolism, etc.). It also makes it possible to support the joint and move it relatively.
Functional bandages can be:
- Preventive: They are performed without a previous injury, but try to minimize the risk of suffering it. Many athletes, for example, wear preventive functional bandages to avoid ankle injuries or sprains.
- Therapeutic bandages: These are made to alleviate a pathology or injury, thus minimizing pain and the risk of aggravating it, although allowing the person to carry out his or her sporting activity in a “normal” way. One example is soccer players. When they suffer a sprained ankle, it is different than if any non-professional athlete suffers a sprained ankle, which would keep them for days without being able to walk properly. Soccer players, normally, will want to play despite the injury, so they will go out on the field with the functional bandage, limiting the mobility of the injury so that the ankle does not suffer.
Why is it performed?
Functional taping is used in traumatic and sports pathologies, to treat joint injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers, ankle, knee, ankle, hip or back, among other areas of the body.
The objectives of all functional taping are:
- To hold and maintain dressings in place.
- To exert some compression on wounds, to contain bleeding.
- To keep splints in place.
- To immobilize or limit the movements of injuries.
- Decrease pain and edema of injuries.
- Facilitate tissue regeneration by allowing movement.
- Correct deformities.
- Facilitate and stimulate movement.
- Prevent injuries and relapses due to indirect trauma.
- Prevent possible deformities.
What does it consist of?
All functional bandaging must be done directly on the skin to be fully effective. For this it is necessary that the skin is shaved. The ideal is to use special adhesive sprays on the area, which will help the bandage to stay in place. As the purpose of the functional bandage is designed for the person to maintain physical activity, it is essential that it is well attached to the skin. If this is not the case, the bandage will lose tension and move, without having the desired effect. This first phase is called pretape or pre-bandage and its objective is to protect the skin, while serving as an anchor for the adhesive bandage strips (tape), which are the ones that will truly correct and stabilize the joint.
The second phase will be the actual taping. It is carried out with inextensible and rigid elastic strips, called tape. These strips provide the patient with a strong fixation. This will be regulated by adjusting the tension, to achieve the desired immobilization, but without preventing joint movements, so that the person can maintain their activity without further injury to the area.
Another possibility for functional bandaging are elastic straps, in case a less rigid support is desired. There are also strips of different thicknesses, foam pads of different shapes to apply pressure to the desired point or to protect more sensitive areas, etc.
It is essential that the bandage is made carefully, without wrinkles (especially in the support areas), protecting the delicate areas of bone relief, areas where blood vessels pass, etc. and making sure that it has been properly adapted to the person and the injury, so that the bandage feels comfortable, while protected. The dressing is left on and will need to be changed if it no longer performs its function (loosening of the tapes, detachment…) or according to the patient’s needs.
Preparation for functional taping
Before applying a functional bandage it is necessary that the area is properly cleaned and shaved, without hair, to ensure maximum adhesion and functionality of the bandage. No further preparation is required.
Aftercare after the procedure
After the intervention the patient should only be aware that he/she still has a lesion, despite being bandaged, so he/she should be cautious with the movements and forces exerted on it. In case of continuing with pain, the specialist will recommend the best treatment, in each case and each injury.
Functional bandaging is a useful tool for treating injuries by avoiding other associated injuries that may occur with other types of immobilization, such as casting or other techniques.