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How to Tape a Sprained Thumb or Wear a Splint
Injury Guides
by Patty Weasler, RN July 25, 2020
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Sources:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprained-thumb
https://www.sportsmd.com/sports-injuries/wrist-hand-injuries/sprained-thumb/
https://www.wikihow.com/Tape-a-Thumb
Shop Sprained Thumb Products
Related Articles
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.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
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Sprained Thumb - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Taping
October 10, 2022
A thumb sprain occurs when the thumb is bent out of its normal range of movement, usually backwards.
It is common in skiing, rugby, and basketball. If a sprained thumb is not treated properly it can recur and be a long-term weakness.
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Symptoms of a sprained thumb
- Thumb sprain symptoms include pain at the time of injury, usually as the thumb is bent backwards.
- Specifically, pain at the base of the thumb and in the web of the thumb.
- You may see swelling over the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP joint) at the base of the thumb.
- Joint laxity and instability may be apparent.
What is a thumb sprain?
A thumb sprain is simply a tear or stretching of any of the ligaments in the thumb. The thumb consists of the phalanges bones which connect to the metacarpal bone at the base of the thumb. This joint is known as the metacarpophalangeal joint.
It is far more likely that your thumb will be injured at the base (MCP) joint than higher up at the phalanges bones (interphalangeal joints). The thumb joint (MCP joint) has a great deal of movement, this range of movement comes at the expense of stability.
Therefore, making it more prone to sprains and dislocations.
What causes a thumb sprain?
Bending the thumb back too far is the main cause of a thumb sprain. They are particularly common in Skiing, Rugby, Judo, and other contact sports as well as ball sports such as basketball and netball.
Players may catch their thumb by bending it back the wrong way. Often they do it more than once making it worse each time. Once the MCP ligaments are sprained then the thumb is less stable and more likely to be injured again, especially if correct treatment is not applied.
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Treatment of a thumb sprain
Apply the principles of PRICE or protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Rest
Rest the injured hand and protect it from further injury by taping the thumb or using a wrist and thumb support.
Cold therapy
Apply ice or cold therapy as soon as possible after injury for 10 minutes every hour for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Reduce frequency as your symptoms improve.
Do not apply directly to the skin as it causes ice burns. Use a wet tea towel or better, a commercially available cold wrap.
Wrist supports
Wear a compression bandage or thumb support to protect the joint and help reduce swelling. Wear this all the time during the acute phase.
Later in the rehabilitation stage, a more specific taping or thumb splint support to prevent the thumb from bending backwards may be more beneficial.
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Professional advice
A professional therapist assesses the injury to rule out total ligament ruptures or a fracture.
They will also advise on a full rehabilitation program consisting of mobility exercises followed by strengthening exercises.
A surgeon may operate if there is a lot of laxity and joint instability, or if they suspect a total rupture.
Exercises
Putty exercises or hand exercise balls are particularly suitable for MCP thumb sprain injuries.
How long will it take to heal?
Most athletes are able to return to sport within 4 to 6 weeks depending on the severity of the injury, sometimes sooner. It is important that strengthening exercises are done to restore stability and prevent re-injury.
If the injury is not treated properly then there is a greater risk of re-injury and permanent instability which will eventually require surgery.
Taping for a thumb sprain
The thumb can be taped in a number of different ways depending on how the joint was damaged. The basic principles of taping remain the same though with anchors being applied and support strips to prevent movement.
External links:
- Buy MCP thumb support at UPMedical.co.uk
Kinesio tapes for basketball, ankle and toe taping for basketball players
Sports tapes for basketball are one of the novelties of medicine, which managed to gain wide recognition and distribution. The use of taping for basketball players is justified by the ability of tapes to help overcome high loads and recover from injury.
In basketball, frequent throws, receiving and passing the ball with arm tension can injure elbow and shoulder joints, arm muscles, hands and fingers. The load on the legs and back of basketball players due to the constantly present dynamics and accelerations, jerks in different directions and jumps is also very high. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the risk of injury through the use of sports tapes.
What is basketball tape For taping basketball players, we recommend using ARES kinesio tapes. They may vary in color and material. There are 2 material options for sports tapes used in basketball:
- Cotton. Cotton tapes are considered basic as they are used for most fixing applications.
- Synthetic. Tape made from a combination of viscose and polyurethane is more rigid and stronger. It is used for enhanced protection of problem areas.
Basketball risk area taping The strength and accuracy of a basketball player's throw depends on his qualifications, training, as well as on the condition of his hands.
Even the pros are at risk of injury to the hands and fingers, as the bones here are quite thin and fragile. Taping will help reduce the risk of damage by strengthening this area.
- Finger taping in basketball is made using narrow bands that fix the joints, but do not restrict mobility.
- Thumb and wrist to be taped as follows:
- The base is 2 strips, about ¾ of the circumference of the wrist. The 1st is glued on the inside of the wrist, and the 2nd on the outside, overlapping the 1st.
- With the thumb bent as far as possible, about 5 loops are wound around the finger from the middle of the base.
- The bandage is fixed on the wrist with a "bracelet" from a strip of wide teip.
Another most vulnerable part of a basketball player's body is the ankle joint. Sharp jerks, unsuccessful jumps or falls can lead to injury - sprain or rupture of the ligaments.
- Ankle taping in basketball is done in different ways. It depends on the purpose for which the tape is applied.
- Prevention. Before games or training, a fixing application is applied to help maintain the ligaments in the desired position and make it easier to bear the load.
- Recovery. If you already have an injury, the tape will help you continue the game, while maintaining joint mobility and reducing pain.
- Shoulder and knee joints in basketball should also be protected with tape. This will prevent overexertion and reduce the risk of sprains and dislocations. And if the injury has already been received, it will speed up rehabilitation.
Since coordination and mobility are very important in basketball, the tapes are applied without significant tension. Thus, basketball players receive reliable protection of problem areas, while maintaining complete freedom of movement.
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How to tap fingers
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How to tap 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;
- is 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 for 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.
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