Treatment Options

Taping and Strapping

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What is Taping and Strapping?

Taping and strapping techniques use adhesive tape to support and stabilise joints, muscles, and soft tissues. They are widely used in injury prevention, acute injury care, and rehabilitation.

Research consistently shows that supportive taping during early injury management reduces the risk of recurrence when athletes return to training or competition. It also protects healing tissues while allowing safe and progressive functional movement.

At Spinal & Sports Care, our sports chiropractors, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation experts utilise both traditional rigid taping and modern elastic kinesiology taping methods to help patients recover more quickly, alleviate pain, and enhance performance.

Benefits of Taping in Injury Care

Taping techniques offer a range of benefits for both acute injuries and long-term management:

  • Joint Protection: Limits unwanted movement to prevent further injury or overuse
  • Early Rehabilitation Support: Assists during the critical early phases of healing by stabilising vulnerable tissues
  • Enhanced Proprioception: Improves joint position awareness, reducing the risk of re-injury
  • Pain Relief: Offloads painful structures and reduces muscle fatigue during physical activity
  • Faster Return to Sport: Allows athletes to maintain mobility while reducing risk during training and competition

Kinesiology Taping (K-Taping)

Kinesiology taping has become a widely recognised tool in sports medicine and rehabilitation. Developed over 25 years ago in Japan, Kinesio® Taping and its variants are now used worldwide by physiotherapists, chiropractors, and sports medicine professionals.

Unlike rigid tape, K-tape is elastic and skin-friendly, allowing a full range of motion while providing continuous support between therapy sessions. It is used to:

  • Support injured muscles without restricting motion
  • Reduce swelling and improve lymphatic drainage
  • Relieve pain by improving local circulation
  • Enhance postural control and movement patterns

At Spinal & Sports Care, K-tape is often used in conjunction with manual therapy, rehabilitation exercises, and strength training to enhance the benefits of treatment and support long-term recovery.

Clinical Applications, Research and Evidence

Clinical studies have shown that:

  • Functional taping reduces recurrence rates after ligament sprains, particularly when used during the first three to four months following an ankle sprain while ligament healing and remodelling occur
  • Prophylactic taping (taping people with no prior ankle injury) has not been proven to reduce the risk of first-time ankle sprains in healthy athletes
  • Ankle bracing is slightly more effective than rigid taping in preventing recurrent ankle sprains according to research, especially in sports involving frequent cutting, pivoting, and jumping movements
  • Elastic taping methods such as K-taping improve circulation, lymphatic flow, and proprioceptive feedback and may assist with postural awareness
  • Combined with rehabilitation exercises, taping can accelerate return to sport and reduce swelling after acute injuries
  • In chronic overuse injuries, K-taping may reduce pain and assist muscle activation patterns when integrated into a structured treatment plan

Conditions Commonly Treated with Taping

  • Ligament sprains (e.g., ankle, knee, wrist)
  • Muscle strains and overuse injuries
  • Shoulder instability or impingement
  • Post-surgical support during return to activity
  • Patellofemoral pain and knee maltracking issues
  • Tendinopathies such as tennis elbow or Achilles tendon injuries
  • Postural correction and spinal support

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Our clinicians can assess your condition and provide taping as part of your treatment plan.

Rigid tape is typically worn for up to 48 hours, while K-tape can be worn for 3–5 days if applied correctly.

Yes. Kinesiology tape is water-resistant and designed to remain in place during normal activities, including bathing and swimming.

No. Taping is an adjunct to therapy. It provides support while you continue with prescribed exercises and rehabilitation programs.

No treatment can completely prevent injury, but research shows taping significantly reduces risk in high-demand sports when combined with proper training and conditioning.

When applied correctly, taping should not cause discomfort. Some mild skin tension or awareness of support is normal.

Yes. Taping is safe for young athletes and is often used to protect joints during high-intensity training or competition.

For some conditions, yes. We provide education on self-taping where appropriate, especially for athletes in ongoing training environments.

Research suggests K-tape may enhance proprioception and muscle activation, supporting better movement control in some cases.

Yes. Elastic taping methods can provide proprioceptive feedback to encourage better posture and spinal alignment during daily activities.