Sprained fingers are one of the most common injuries you can experience, athlete or otherwise. These occur when the ligaments that link and hold the joints tear.
Sprained fingers, of course, cause pain and discomfort, which limits mobility. This is why people seek effective treatment to effectively resolve this condition and return to their normal routine immediately.
Taping is a popular treatment for finger sprains and strains. Athletes and even medical specialists have endorsed this method. Is taping truly useful for finger sprains and injuries?
Benefits of Taping
Finger taping is the practice of attaching athletic tape right to the surface of the fingers. This is done to assist fingers in keeping a firm posture, thus minimizing unexpected or unwanted movement of the knuckle and preventing potential damage and pain.
The tape differs from others in that it is clinically certified and features sweat-proof adhesive. The tape can normally stay intact for approximately three to four days, even when bathing or working. This makes taping a popular method of injury prevention, particularly among athletes.
The tape method is based on the idea of supporting the fingers while allowing blood and other liquids to freely circulate within and around the damaged muscles. This technique normally involves the use of a relatively stiffer athletic tape to keep muscles and joints in place.
Unfortunately, even when athletes wear tapes, finger injuries occur. This is not to say that taping is pointless. Taping has long been used to help athletes manage finger pain and muscle strains.
Best Sports Tape for Fingers can make your fingers heal faster by limiting the movement range for specific muscles and joints. It can also be used as a splint for twisted joints. Furthermore, the tape can assist reduce swelling, which can alleviate discomfort and avoid further damage by tightening the muscle.
Who’s it for?
As we can see, finger taping is quite popular among athletes. Many MMA fighters, for example, tape their fingers. Whether it’s a daily training day or contest, you’d find MMA practitioners put insane amounts of tape on their hands.
They’d tape not only their fingers but also their wrists and other muscles at times. Why is this the case? Surprisingly, they do this not only to avoid injury but also for other reasons.
One of the main reasons athletes tape their fingers is to strengthen their grip. Different grips will require additional finger strength. As a result, if their fingers are not held by tape, they may slip laterally, damaging the joints.
Not only athletes but also musicians have been seen with tapes on their fingers. For years, notable guitarists such as Kirk Hammett have utilized tape on their knuckles when performing.
The reason guitarists wear tape on their fingers and palms isn’t that they’ve uncovered a revolutionary playing style. It’s actually to keep their fingertips and knuckles safe. Practices such as hand muting can also demand the use of tape.
Taping the hands protects them from receiving severe cuts from the guitar strings and also keeps the flesh from blistering. In the case of classical guitarists, they will tape their fingernails to protect them.
As you can see, Finger Wrap Tape can be used in a variety of fields and settings. At the end of the day, these tapes aid in joint reinforcement. It can relieve pain and reposition the ligament, improving the general condition of your fingers.
Types and Techniques
There are numerous finger taping techniques available to aid in the healing of finger accidents, but the most popular are the ‘X’ and ‘Buddy’ tapes. You can apply both at the same moment if needed, but they provide specific functions.
1. X Tape
An X tape approach can assist in preventing unnecessary added force on the fingers’ joints when gripping and brawling. This is why professionals in martial arts and competitive sports, as well as climbers, make full use of this technique.
To use this taping technique, start with pulling the tape up at an angular position over the front knuckle joint making one diagonal line. Roll the tape twice over the top knuckle, being careful not to wrap over the actual joint line because the finger must still be able to flex.
Now, return down to where you began, again passing the joint line to form a complete X. Put the tape around your lower knuckle two more times to secure it.
When grasping with this tape, you will be forced to use more forearm power rather than just your fingers. Even so, you ought to be able to move the finger, but it should feel reinforced and the last few inches should be walled off by the tape’s width.
2. Buddy Tape
Buddy Taping is so named because you will be attaching one finger to another. By splinting the two fingers together, you prevent the damaged finger from twisting sideways and limit the risk of sprains and fractures associated with “jammed fingers”.
To begin using this technique, rip two strands of athletic tape about the size of the fingers. Begin wrapping on the bottom of the ‘A’ finger, then loop it over the ‘B’ finger, splinting it together.
Repeat this technique at the top knuckles of the fingers to make two splinting spots. That’s all. You’ve successfully deployed the “Buddy Tape,” and your fingers are now secure and strong enough to tackle enemies and obstacles.
But, before you go to the arena, remember that this taping technique is not recommended for acutely injured fingers. If you have to tape your fingers all the time for more than two months, see a doctor because something is wrong with your fingers.
Helpful Hacks:
1. These tapes can act as skin protection
Finger taping can help to protect the skin from harm. The idea is to use tape to create an additional layer of skin to keep your real skin from tearing apart. Using tape in this approach will spare you days of discomfort from severe flapping wounds.
Unfortunately, tape has a significant drawback: it reduces friction. And, since you won’t have as much sense when grasping, expect to slip, have less secure contact, and struggle with challenging positions.
2. You should never overdo the tape
Taping, as previously said, can dramatically lessen your grip. Furthermore, if you use too much tape, you will almost certainly never adapt your skin to the required conditions.
One thing you can do to avoid this problem is to not begin taping at the first hint of discomfort. So, while this practice is tough, it will improve the efficiency and strength of your hands in the long term. Another option is to tape your hand just when it begins to bleed from exposed cuts or bruises.
Pick Your Fighter
If you are active, finger tape may be the most vital thing you must have right now. While picking one finger tape product may look simple, the multitude of options can leave you puzzled and undecided.
So, when purchasing your next roll of finger tape, consider the following criteria.
1. Budget
After all, finger tape is simply tape. You wear it and then throw it away at the end of a practice session.
As a result, overpaying on finger tape that costs almost as much as your wrestling gear isn’t realistic. Keep in mind that more expensive isn’t necessarily better. So, go with a low-cost brand that starts at roughly $12 per pack.
2. Durability
Aside from inexpensive finger tape, you’ll want tape with excellent adherence.
Your finger tape should be strong so that you only need to wrap your finger once per training session. The last thing you want is for the tape to come apart during the first 15 minutes of an exercise session.
3. Sweat resistance
Sweat resistance is another important feature to look for in finger tape. When you work out for a lengthy amount of time, you will sweat a lot. As a result, you’ll need to choose a tape that will remain on your knuckles for the duration of the session.
Even if tapes are becoming increasingly popular for treating finger sprains and injuries, there are not many sports stores that have them in their inventory. Luckily, there is Hampton Adams, which is one of the best locations for athletic tapes and other sports treatments. This place lets you choose high-quality tape in a variety of colors and styles.
We hope this helped!
Hopefully, this post has helped you understand more about taping for finger sprains and injuries. If you are having difficulty taping your sprained or injured fingers, consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare practitioner. They can suggest certain specific taping techniques that may be beneficial.