In professional football, the tape bandage, also known as tape or taping for short, is of central importance and has become an integral part of the daily work of physiotherapists. The tapes are used both for treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal complaints.

A basic distinction is made between conventional and predominantly stabilizing sports tape and elastic kinesio tape. The purpose of sports tape is to prevent injuries and protect injured joints during training or competitions. FCZ physiotherapist Michael Schuhmacher says: "We also use sports tape after players' injuries to give them more security when they resume training or competition. The mental component is also important for the player if he knows that he has an additional support on the ligamentous apparatus and can therefore perform more freely."

Sports tapes are widely used in football and are often used to stabilize the ankle joint. Various tape straps and layers are used to give the foot stability and restrict its direction of movement. "It is important that the player feels comfortable with the intensity of the tape and that it is not too tight or not tight enough," says Schuhmacher. «Some footballers continue to have their joints taped for years after an injury has healed because they have become accustomed to it and the ligamentous apparatus has adapted accordingly."

In contrast to conventional sports tape, which is used for compression, splinting or augmentation as described above, kinesiology tape, or physio tape, is intended to improve muscular activity, freedom of movement and proprioception and ensure better lymphatic drainage and therefore better healing. Kinesiotape is made of cotton fabric with elastane threads, viscose or synthetic material and can usually be stretched to 130 to 140 percent of its original length. "We also use kinesiotape as a transitional tape for ankle injuries, for example, to gradually wean players off the sports tape. Furthermore, such elastic tapes are mainly applied to the muscles," says Michael Schuhmacher, describing the use of kinesiotapes at FCZ."

What should be considered when taping?

To achieve optimum stability, the tapes are often applied directly to the skin. However, if a player is taped every day, caution is also required because the adhesives in the tape can also lead to allergic reactions and skin irritation in certain cases. "If an injury is still very acute, it also makes no sense to tape players and they are not released for training," says FCZ physiotherapist Schuhmacher.

Conclusion

Both sports tape and kinesio tape are extremely important in football, not only serving to stabilize players and promote the healing process, but also fulfilling an important mental function and giving players a sense of security.