shin taping

Prevention of shin splints: shin taping

Bandages, strapping and taping are commonly seen adorning the limbs of sportspeople and the technique of applying such items is a valuable skill learned by physiotherapists, sports therapists or coaches working with athletes.

The main types of bandage used by professionals in a sports environment are:

• Cohesive bandages

These are the self-stick bandages that come in a roll and are quick and easy to apply as they can be torn by hand. This type of bandage will normally be used as a first-aid measure if an athlete suffers an injury during play.

• Elastic adhesive bandage

This is the fabric used in everyday sticking plasters so it’s commonly used to hold dressings firmly in place, allowing an athlete to continue to play if the skin has been broken.

• Zinc oxide tape

This type of strapping tape is non-elastic, easy to tear and sticks to itself but it will rarely be used in a first-aid situation as its primary use is much more likely to be a preventative one such as shin taping.

Shin taping

The purpose of applying a non-stretch strapping is never to provide the sort of support that would allow an athlete to continue taking part in an activity even when injured. Sports medicine practitioners use this type of strapping to provide what is known as feedback support. Placed correctly, the taping pulls on the skin during the specific movements of the athlete’s activity and this can help the athlete to limit movements where necessary to avoid over-stressing the area of concern. As the tape pulls on the skin, messages are sent to the brain to activate protective mechanisms in the area where the pull or stretch is being felt. This is a process that would normally occur naturally but a previous injury in the area may have caused damage and impaired the nerves.

Shin taping is not a treatment for shin splints but can be used as part of a rehabilitation programme. When used in conjunction with strengthening and stretching exercises it then becomes a useful preventative measure to help avoid a recurrence. Taping should never be applied without expert advice but it’s a technique that can be learned through demonstration and then applied as a do-it-yourself process.

Do’s and do not’s:

• Do seek expert advice
• Do seek professional advice to ascertain the source of your shin splint pain before considering taping as techniques vary depending on the area to be taped
• Do rule out common sources of shin splints such as overpronation etc. before returning to training
• Don’t attempt to apply taping without professional guidance
• Don’t use zinc oxide tape to wrap around the muscular part of your lower leg as its non-elastic properties will restrict muscle movement and may result in circulatory problems
• Don’t forget to shave the hairs from your leg, or use an under-wrap, before applying tape to your shins - you’ll be very glad you did when it comes to removing it!

Related Links

Taping for shin splints - click here
General guides to taping - click here
Video on how to tape shin splints - click here