Using Athletic Tape to Prevent Baseball Injuries and Improve Performance

Understanding Tape for Baseball Players

Baseball players use athletic tape, often called t tape, for a variety of purposes. Proper taping techniques can help prevent injuries, provide support, and improve performance on the field. As more players discover the benefits of taping, understanding best practices for use and removal is key.

Types of Tape Used in Baseball

The most common tapes used in baseball are:

• White athletic tape - The standard for taping. It provides rigid support to joints and muscles.
• Elastic therapeutic tape - Stretches with the body's movements. It is used to treat injuries and provide compression.
• Foam underwrap - Worn underneath to protect the skin from adhesive and absorb sweat.

The combination of tape types offers players the right amount of stability, flexibility, and comfort to meet their needs.

Benefits of Taping for Baseball Players

There are many advantages baseball players can gain from proper taping techniques:

• Injury prevention and management - Tape provides extra support to vulnerable joints like ankles, knees, and elbows to protect from blows and twists.
• Pain relief - Kinesiology tape can reduce strain on muscles, tendons, and ligaments to alleviate pain and soreness.
• Stable joints - Rigid athletic tape reinforces joints, allowing for full motion while reducing risk of dislocations.
• Increased proprioception - Tape applied to the skin gives the body greater awareness of joint positioning.
• Moisture wicking - Specialized tapes pull sweat away from the body to keep players cool and dry.

Common Taping Applications in Baseball

Tape can target nearly every part of a baseball player's body. Some key uses include:

• Shoulders - Reinforce shoulders that undergo repetitive overhead throwing motions to prevent injury.
• Elbows - Protect elbows from hyperextension when pitching and throwing.
• Wrists - Stabilize wrists against twisting and sprains from batting, catching, and tagging.
• Fingers - Buddy taping splits reinforces fingers vulnerable to hyperextension injuries.
• Ankles - Compression taping strengthens ankles and reduces risk of rolls and twists.
• Knees - Kinesiology tape applied in various directions can treat patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee).
• Thighs and calves - Tape provides muscle support from sprinting around bases.

Proper Taping Techniques

To gain the most benefit from taping, follow these best practices:

• Always tape onto clean, dry skin to maximize adhesion.
• In most cases, apply tape from the middle of the injured area towards the ends.
• Use rigid white tape followed by strips of kinesiology tape for maximum support.
• Apply foam pre-wrap underneath to protect skin and soak up sweat.
• Check for proper compression - tape should feel snug but not restrict circulation.
• Smooth down edges thoroughly to prevent peeling and keep tape intact.

It's also important not to tape too tightly or leave it on too long. This can restrict blood flow or cause skin irritation. Players should remove tape after games and practices to allow the body to recover.

Removing Tape Safely

Taking tape off properly ensures player comfort and prevents skin damage:

• Carefully peel tape back on itself, holding skin taut underneath.
• Apply rubbing alcohol or adhesive remover spray to dissolve glue residue.
• Gently scrub any remaining sticky patches with a washcloth.
• Rinse skin thoroughly then pat dry.
• Inspect area and treat reddened spots with hydrocortisone cream.
• Allow 6-8 hours between taping applications to let skin breathe.

By caring for skin during the taping and removal processes, baseball players can reap the stabilization and pain relief benefits while avoiding irritation.

Using Tape to Prevent Baseball Injuries

Tape serves an important preventative role in keeping baseball players off the disabled list. When applied correctly before practices and games, it provides external joint and muscle support to compensate for weaknesses and reduce strain.

Pitchers in particular should consider strategic taping to protect their shoulders, elbows, and wrists from overuse during throwing. Catchers can tape fingers that undergo constant impact inside gloves to prevent jams. And field players would benefit from taping ankles and knees vulnerable to blows and awkward twists when running bases.

Consistent taping through a long, intense season can keep joints stabilized, muscles supported, and players off the bench. Understanding how to self-tape common baseball problem areas can help every athlete stay healthy and in peak performing condition.

FAQs

What are the main types of tape used in baseball?

The most common tapes used are white athletic tape to provide rigid support, elastic therapeutic tape that stretches with the body's movements, and foam underwrap worn underneath to protect the skin.

What injuries can taping help prevent in baseball players?

Proper taping techniques can help prevent injuries to vulnerable joints like ankles, knees, elbows, and shoulders that undergo repetitive motions in baseball.

When should baseball players tape injuries?

Players should tape injuries before practices and games to provide external joint and muscle support. Pitchers, catchers and field players would particularly benefit from preventative taping.

What's the proper way to remove tape after baseball games?

Carefully peel tape back on itself while holding the skin taut, use remover sprays to dissolve residue glue, gently scrub any remaining stickiness, rinse the area thoroughly, and use hydrocortisone cream on any reddened patches.