Benefits Athletic vs Kinesiology Tape Techniques Benefits How to Splint Tape or Splint
Don’t wait too long after your injury to learn how to tape a sprained thumb. Whether taping or splinting, both techniques will support the thumb joint and work to prevent another injury. It’s especially important to splint or tape after a thumb sprain if you plan to get back into activities or sports that involve your hand. Here we will cover the benefits of taping and splinting and how to perform each one correctly.
Benefits of Taping
If you’ve suffered a sports injury to your ulnar collateral ligament, taping could help. The benefits of taping your thumb and hand are all based on preventing an additional injury and supporting your hand and thumb. Check out the specific benefits listed below.
Supports the thumb joint
Minimizes movement
Prevents hyperextension
Increases your awareness of the injury
Provides compression
Reduces thumb pain
Try Alternating Hot & Cold Therapy for Added Relief
Athletic Tape vs Kinesiology Tape for Thumb
Athletic tape and kinesiology tape are two very different types of support tape used for injuries. Athletic tape’s benefits make it a better choice during the initial recovery phase. Whereas kinesiology tape is better for long-term recovery and protection. Neither one is an overall better tape than the other, each has its specific advantages.
Athletic Tape
Stiffer
Acts more as a brace
Restricts range of motion
Supports the joint
Inexpensive
Easy to find
Kinesiology Tape
Improves self-awareness
Changes how your body feels pain
Reduces the load on the joint during movement
Boosts circulation
Can remain on the skin for multiple days
Taping Techniques
Before you begin taping your thumb make sure you have tape and scissors. Clean your hand and thumb to remove oils and any residue. This will help the adhesive on the tape adhere to your skin. Thumb injuries can be difficult to tape on your own. We recommend having someone help you until you get used to the process.
Athletic Tape
Cut and place a piece of tape around your wrist to act as an anchor strip.
Divide the tape into two strips, length-wise.
On the back of the hand, put one strip of tape down on the anchor piece and wrap it between your thumb and index finger, with the end landing on the anchor on the inside of the wrist.
Make a figure 8 with another piece of tape, wrapping from the anchor piece over your thumb and back down onto the anchor.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 two more times.
Finish with a last piece of tape wrapped over the anchor to secure all the tape.
Kinesiology Tape
Measure a piece of 1-inch wide tape from the thumb knuckle to just above the wrist.
Cut the edges of the kinesiology tape so they are rounded.
Position your thumb against your palm and push your hand toward your ulna bone.
Place the tape over the knuckle of the thumb and up your arm.
With a 2-inch wide kinesiology tape, place it perpendicularly over the wrist but do not wrap it completely around the wrist.
Rub baby oil onto the and around the tape. Let the oil sit for 20 minutes. Then gently pull the tape off.
Hop in the shower and lather up with soap and water. The tape should come off easily.
Always be sure to hold your skin down as you pull the tape off.
Pull in the direction of your hair, not against it.
Do not pull quickly or yank the tape off.
Benefits of Thumb Spica Splinting
If you have suffered a partially torn ligament, a thumb splint with a spica brace is what many doctors will recommend. The protection and support it provides will give you lasting benefits as your injury heals. It also offers a range of unique benefits.
Immobilizes the thumb
Allows the fingers to move freely
Stabilizes the thumb joint
Supports the thumb during activities
Easy to put on and take off
Adjustable to any swelling within the hand or thumb
How to Prepare a Thumb Splint
Making a thumb splint with athletic tape is another way to support your thumb and help protect it during sports and activities. Follow our step-by-step instructions to splint your thumb at home.
Start with wrapping a piece of athletic tape around your wrist.
Make sure the tape is not too tight and does not restrict blood circulation.
With the second piece of tape place one end on your inner wrist and wrap the tape up over your thumb and loop it back down to the back of your wrist.
Repeat step number 3 up to four times to secure your thumb.
Wrap a piece of tape around the distal end of the affected thumb.
Continue with this piece of tape and secure it down on the back of your hand in between your thumb and index finger.
Try these other treatment options for a sprained thumb.
Choosing Tape or Splint
A thumb sprain is a painful injury that can interfere with many of your daily activities. After your injury, seek medical advice from your doctor to make sure your method of immobilization is safe for your injury and that you don’t have a broken thumb; which needs an x-ray to confirm. If your diagnosis confirms a sprain then follow your doctor’s orders regarding splinting and taping.
Overview Best Ways to Treat a Sprained Thumb Stretches & Exercises for a Sprained Thumb How to Tape or Splint a Sprained Thumb
Shop Sprained Thumb Products
Patty Weasler, RN
Patty Weasler is a freelance health writer and nurse. She is certified in critical care nursing and has been practicing for over 10 years. Patty lives in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and three children. She enjoys spending her time with family and educating people about their health.
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Sprained Thumb | Symptoms, treatment, rehabilitation & taping
By Terry Zeigler, EdD, ATC
A sprained thumb involves damage of the connective tissues where ligament is stretched or torn. You’ll usually feel pain and stiffness at the base of your thumb and you may see swelling and bruising. One of the more common injuries to the thumb is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (ligament on the inside of the thumb at the proximal or first joint).
The thumb is unique from the fingers in its anatomical structure. While the fingers have three phalanges (small bones) and two joints (proximal and distal interphalangeal joints), the thumb only has two phalanges and one interphalangeal joint.
The proximal joint of the thumb is called the metacarpophalangeal joint because it is the articulation between the first metacarpal and the proximal phalange of the thumb. Any significant injury to this joint (i.e., fracture, dislocation, or severe sprain) can cause functional disability of the thumb and hand if not treated correctly.
What is a sprained thumb of the ulnar collateral ligament?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament. In this case, it is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb.
Because the purpose of ligaments is to stabilize the bones within a joint, significant injury to this ligament can cause instability of the thumb. This type of injury may affect the athlete’s ability to grip, throw, or catch an object. For an athlete, this type of injury can be devastating.
Sprained thumb symptoms
Sprains can be diagnosed as either mild (first degree), moderate (second degree) or severe (third degree). Each classification is based on the amount of damage to the ligament.
A first-degree sprain: Is a mild injury in which the ligament may be stretched some but is not torn. When a ligament stability test is applied to the injured joint, the joint remains stable and the ligament remains tight.
The stretching of the ligament may still cause pain, mild localized swelling, and point tenderness directly over the ligament. Movement of the joint may increase the athlete’s pain and discomfort.
A second degree sprain: Is a moderate injury because there is actual damage to the ligament. The ligament is partially torn resulting in a joint that is unstable. This means that the joint may have sideways movement when it should only be able to flex and extend. The joint may also hyperextend meaning that the torn ligament(s) may allow the joint to extend beyond its normal extended position.
This type of injury is considered a moderate injury and one that needs immediate attention and treatment. The athlete may experience immediate pain and disability of the thumb. The swelling may extend beyond the injured joint and move either down the thumb and/or up into the hand.
A partial ligament tear may result in significant pain anytime the athlete tries to move the joint. The challenge is that the thumb is used in most functional activities involving the hand so functional disability of the thumb may result in significant challenges for the athlete.
Third degree sprain: The most severe type of ligament injury is a complete rupture of the ligament. The ligament may be torn somewhere in the middle of the ligament or may be torn at either the proximal or distal insertion. In some cases, the ligament rupture may also tear off a piece of the bone (avulsion fracture).
This injury may result in deformity, discoloration, swelling, point tenderness, and pain upon movement. Because a fracture may be involved with a third degree ligament sprain, an athlete suspected of this type of injury should be immediately splinted and referred for medical attention.
Sprained thumb test
A sprained thumb test can be used to diagnose the injury and your doctor can perform a ligament stress test and request any necessary imaging. Ligament stability tests can be applied by a sports medicine professional to determine if the ligament has been partially torn or completely ruptured. If a complete tear is suspected, the physician may order an x-ray to determine if there may be an associated fracture. As part of the test, they will do a thorough medical history and clinical evaluation.
Who gets sprained thumb?
This type of injury is common in skiers and football players. For skiers, this injury is caused when the skier falls and lands on his hand/pole tearing the UCL. The mass of the skier’s body combined with his/her velocity transmits a high force through the arm and into the hand during a fall. If the skier lands on his/her hand, specifically on the hand/pole, the force of the fall is enough to rupture the UCL.
Football players are also known to sustain this type of injury specifically while tackling an opponent. The UCL can be injured when the football player grabs an opponent during a tackle with the thumb getting caught in the jersey. If the force of the opposing player is stronger than the football player’s grasp, the opposing player can break free of the football player’s grasp possibly tearing the UCL in the process.
An ulnar collateral ligament tear of the MCP can also be seen in athletes in the sports of baseball, softball, and hockey (Anderson, M.K., Hall, S.J., & Martin, M., 2005). For baseball and softball athletes, this type of injury can occur during a head-first slide in which the thumb is caught on the front of the base while the body continues to slide.
Hockey players can be at risk for this type of injury in the same way that skiers are at risk. The hockey stick can become an instrument of injury if the thumb becomes caught behind the stick either during a fall or during a collision with another player.
Causes of sprained thumb
The most common mechanism of injury for a UCL sprain is when the thumb is in a position of full extension and then is forcefully abducted (pulled away from the body) or hyperextended. If the force exceeds the tensile strength of the ligament, a tear will occur.
When a joint is hyperextended, the force that causes the hyperextension may be stronger than the ligament fibers can withstand. Although a ligament can withstand a small amount of stretching without tearing, once the force exceeds the tensile strength of the ligament fibers, the ligament will begin to tear and may completely rupture.
Treatment for sprained thumb
The treatment plan for a thumb sprain is specific to the degree of the injury. A first degree sprain should be treated immediately with the P.R.I.C.E. principle – Protection, Rest, Icing, Compression, Elevation – for treating acute injuries. If the athlete has only mild swelling and no instability, the athlete should apply an ice pack to the thumb for twenty minutes every two hours for the first two to three days.
If possible, the hand should be rested for the first couple of days post-injury to allow the healing process to take place. Taping the thumb can provide protection from further injury especially if the athlete wants to continue to participate in sports during the healing process.
Once the swelling begins to subside, the athlete can begin range of motion and strengthening exercises for the thumb and hand. One of the best exercises to increase both range of motion and strength of the thumb and hand are ball squeezes.
The athlete only needs a soft type of ball (i.e., racquetball or foam ball) to perform these exercises. The ball is placed in the palm of the hand and the athlete can perform multiple ball squeezes throughout the day. One recommendation is to have the athlete perform ball squeezes to pain tolerance throughout the day (i.e., 10 every hour). As the athlete’s range of motion and strength improves, the athlete can increase the intensity of the ball squeezes.
If a soft type of ball cannot be found, a good substitute is a rolled sock. The benefit of the sock is that the athlete can choose a sock that best fits the hand. As the range of motion improves and increases over time, the athlete can use a smaller sock.
If the athlete has instability of the ligament, the athlete needs to be referred to a physician for further evaluation. If the ligament laxity is less than 10 to 20 degrees, then a partial tear should be suspected. In this case, the thumb should be immobilized in a splint or thumb spica cast for up to six weeks to allow the ligament to heal properly (Brukner, P. & Khan, K., 2002).
Surgery may be recommended in the following cases:
• Avulsion fracture with displacement of the ligament insertion • Complete rupture of the UCL • Subluxation of the proximal phalange • Chronic UCL injury with functional instability, pain and weakness
Recovery – Getting back to Sport
Athletes should have pain-free range of motion of the thumb and full strength equal to the uninjured thumb before being released to return to sport. This can be achieved by performing the ball squeeze exercises suggested above.
How to
tape a sprained thumb
Athletes returning from either a second or third degree UCL injury should also wear protective splinting or taping when they return to sport. Several athletic tape jobs can be applied to protect the thumb and prevent the thumb from being placed in a position of hyperextension.
One tape job is a check rein. This is a simple tape job that loops one end of a one inch piece of athletic tape around the proximal phalange of the thumb and the other end around the proximal phalange of the index finger. Care must be taken to first place the tape on the thumb and then move the thumb towards the index finger before securing the tape on the index finger. This will ensure proper positioning of the thumb to prevent injury.
The thumb should be moved into a position that restricts the thumb movement from full extension or abduction. When the thumb is fully abducted or extended, the thumb can form a 90 degree angle with the hand. To protect the thumb with this tape job, the thumb should be placed at about a 45 degree angle and then secured with the tape.
Care must also be taken to leave extra tape on each end after the piece is looped around the finger or thumb. The extra tape is then wrapped around the middle check rein to secure the tape.
Certified athletic trainers are experts at applying protective tape for a number of injuries. The thumb is one anatomical structure in which there are a number of different tape jobs for the same purpose. The certified athletic trainer may apply several different tape jobs before finding the one that the athlete prefers.
How to tape a thumb with
KT Tape
Sprained Thumb Brace
Sprained Thumb braces are a simple, cost-effective way to provide support and protect the tomb from further injury. Wearing a brace can help reduce your thumb pain and help it heal quicker as you allow the ligaments to properly heal. You may also consider wearing your thumb brace at night to help you sleep and avoid pain from bumping your thumb at night.
When Can I Return to Play?
The athlete can return to sport when he/she has been released by his/her physician and has pain-free full range of motion, strength, and functional ability of the thumb and hand.
Virtual Care from Sports Doctors and Specialists
SportsMD offers Virtual Care and Second Opinion Services. It allows you to quickly and conveniently speak with a sports doctor or specialist and have an effective alternative to emergency room, urgent care, or waiting for a doctors appointment. You can get Virtual Care from your home or anywhere via phone or video chat.
Learn more here.
References
Anderson, M.K., Hall, S.J., & Martin, M. (2005). Foundations of Athletic Training: Prevention, Assessment, and Management. (3rd Ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, PA.
Bahr, R. & Maehlum, S. (2004). Clinical Guide to Sports Injuries. Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL.
Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2002). Clinical Sports Medicine. (2nd Ed.). McGraw Hill: Australia.
Irvin, R., Iversen, D., & Roy, S. (1998). Sports Medicine: Prevention, Assessment, Management, and Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries. (2nd Ed.). Allyn and Bacon: Needham Heights, MA.
How to tap fingers
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How to Tape Your Fingers
Volleyball players injure their fingers quite often. Most often this happens when performing a block, when the ball hits the left finger. This can happen even to professionals. Beginner athletes injure their fingers even when simply passing or receiving the ball.
Finger injuries are primarily sprains, fractures and dislocations of the fingers. It is not possible to accurately track the statistics of finger injuries in volleyball due to the fact that an athlete does not stop playing in case of a finger injury, but continues to play, fixing the injured finger, for example, with a plaster or kinesiotape.
Kinesiology taping is a method of applying adhesive elastic tapes (tapes) taking into account the vector of muscle movement. This method is successfully used for the prevention and treatment of sports injuries, as well as to alleviate the patient's condition in a number of diseases, such as osteochondrosis, arthrosis, enthesopathy, etc. Taping fingers in volleyball is rightfully considered the most effective method of preventing injuries, and the wrapped fingers of athletes have long ceased to be exotic.
Tape is a tape made of breathable elastic cotton on a hypoallergenic adhesive layer. In contrast to the usual patch, which athletes used to wrap their fingers with, special tapes have elasticity in the longitudinal direction - such an application does not cause discomfort.
Advantages of the kinesiology taping method:
tapes are “worn” for several days, do not interfere with the body's breathing and are water resistant;
is completely free of discomfort when applied correctly;
does not affect the functionality of the muscle;
open 24 hours;
accelerates the process of rehabilitation after injuries;
increases resistance to stress.
Taping in volleyball is successfully used both for injury prevention and recovery of the athlete. Kinesiology tape, by its nature, mimics the properties of the skin: when properly applied, it transmits positive sensory signals to the body, allowing physiologically correct movement of muscles and joints. As a result, the correction of the motor stereotype, the likelihood of developing both accidental injuries and the consequences of overstrain during the game, is significantly reduced.
Taping consists of the following steps:
Preparation - remove excess hair; clean, degrease and dry the skin.
Applying the tape - remove the paper base; stick the tape.
After applying, rub the kinesio tape with your hand to activate; wait at least 30 minutes before playing or training.
Removal - steam the tape in the shower and carefully remove; soak the tape with a special solvent and remove it painlessly; holding the skin, remove the tape in the direction of hair growth with one sharp movement.
Tape Removal Spray
Taping is performed in a brightly lit place, without pressure, with prolonged friction, which ensures maximum adhesion of the tape to the skin surface. At the same time, folds should not form on the surface of the skin - this can lead to irritation in the taped area.
Thumb Injuries: Protection and First Aid
When we talk about thumb injuries, we most often think of sprains of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, which often occur in sports such as skiing, team games with ball, especially volleyball.
The thumb is the most important finger of the hand. It allows you to adjust the grip strength from the weakest to the strongest. His movements allow the hand to act more accurately.
A sprain is an injury that ranges from a simple full force sprain to a partial tear in some of the fibers. In the case of the thumb, the medial lateral ligament is usually affected when the finger is left at the maximum distance and pressure or impact is applied to it. In volleyball, this mechanism of injury occurs when receiving, defending, and less often when falling on the hand. Pain in the thumb after playing volleyball cannot be ignored and an x-ray must be taken to rule out a fracture. The symptoms of a sprain are pain in the area of the ligaments, sometimes swelling, which may appear later, with or without hematoma. Increased mobility of the finger may indicate an increased complexity of the injury.
First steps after injury
• Stop play.
• Apply ice and lightly squeeze the injured area to reduce pain and swelling.
• Try not to lower your hand.
• While waiting to see a doctor, fix your finger with a bandage, splint or tape.
Treatment
This is an important step to restore a stable and strong joint to the hand. It includes:
• An immobility phase that lasts depending on the severity of the injury, swelling and inflammation.
• Restoration of range of motion.
• The phase of strengthening the various muscles of the hand, which is carried out with the help of the other hand, varying the resistance.
• Development of a pincer grip in conjunction with other 4 fingers, first without resistance, and then with it.
• Work on global arm movements to bring back the technique needed for the sport.
• The resumption of training, while the player must be in a bandage or brace.
Until then, the therapist must be satisfied with the condition of all joints of the thumb, and the finger must be included in all physiological axes up to the elbow. Secondly, it is necessary to observe the biomechanics of the entire upper limb.
Injury prevention
Prevention is better than cure, so pay attention to warm-up and functional training y:
• Take your time, try to warm up all the fingers individually and together (especially in winter, the cold makes the joints stiffer) .
• Push-ups on the floor or against a wall on your fingertips (an easier version of push-ups is to kneel).
• Handling 2 tennis balls or similar sized balls.
• Throw the ball with a partner, changing the height of the throw, the position of the hand and wrist (you can also throw the ball against the wall).
• Pull the power cable towards you first with your whole hand, then with your thumb and forefinger, thumb and middle finger, thumb and ring finger, etc.
• Push up with each hand on the ball and one leg up. This exercise strengthens the muscles and improves proprioception.
• Sitting on the floor with your legs straight, lift yourself up on your hands, balancing on your toes and toes.
• Standing with a partner in front of the net opposite each other, jump, hitting each other's palms.
• Throw medicine ball ( heavy ball ) over your head.
• Do the same with the Volleyball Practice Ball by tossing it with one hand, alternating left and right.
We recommend having someone help you until you get used to the process.
It also offers a range of unique benefits.
She is certified in critical care nursing and has been practicing for over 10 years. Patty lives in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and three children. She enjoys spending her time with family and educating people about their health.
You’ll usually feel pain and stiffness at the base of your thumb and you may see swelling and bruising. One of the more common injuries to the thumb is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (ligament on the inside of the thumb at the proximal or first joint).
If a complete tear is suspected, the physician may order an x-ray to determine if there may be an associated fracture. As part of the test, they will do a thorough medical history and clinical evaluation. 
Although a ligament can withstand a small amount of stretching without tearing, once the force exceeds the tensile strength of the ligament fibers, the ligament will begin to tear and may completely rupture.
If the ligament laxity is less than 10 to 20 degrees, then a partial tear should be suspected. In this case, the thumb should be immobilized in a splint or thumb spica cast for up to six weeks to allow the ligament to heal properly (Brukner, P. & Khan, K., 2002).
Several athletic tape jobs can be applied to protect the thumb and prevent the thumb from being placed in a position of hyperextension.
-Step-5.jpg/aid43486-v4-728px-Play-21-(Basketball)-Step-5.jpg)
In volleyball, this mechanism of injury occurs when receiving, defending, and less often when falling on the hand. Pain in the thumb after playing volleyball cannot be ignored and an x-ray must be taken to rule out a fracture. The symptoms of a sprain are pain in the area of the ligaments, sometimes swelling, which may appear later, with or without hematoma. Increased mobility of the finger may indicate an increased complexity of the injury. 
