Knee Strapping Techniques

Experiencing pain in your knee(s) can make walking difficult, let along enjoying an active lifestyle. Depending on the type of injury and support you need, there are different ways to tape your knees. Taping is not a substitute for proper medical care and will not cure all injuries. Always talk to your doctor when you are concerned about knee pain.

Diagnose the Problem

• The knee is a complex joint that bears a lot of the stress and strain of walking, running and jumping. If you are experiencing pain in your knee, get a proper diagnosis for your injury. Different taping techniques are used to treat different conditions. The knee may be afflicted with many acute and chronic injuries with many anatomical components.

  The patella is your kneecap and should sit on the front of your knee. The medial and lateral ligaments are on the side of the knee that help you extend and flex your knee and also provide support when pivoting. The anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate ligaments run across the knee and help to twist your leg when pivoting. The patella tendon helps keep the patella stable by attaching it to the shin.

  Taping can be used either to reduce strain on the knee or to provide support while the knee is rehabilitating from an injury. Many athletes use taping as a preventative method to ease the stress on knees. Others use it while rehabilitating from an injury.

Taping

• Taping the patella tendon is a fairly simple taping technique using 1-inch tape. Start with the knee bent at a 90-degree angle and wrap the tape flat around the knee once. When you bring the tape back to the front begin to twist it into a string as you go across the front once again. Repeat the flat tape over the same section and then repeat a twisted layer finishing with a flat layer to hold the twist in place.

  The McConnel Taping Technique is designed to hold the patella in place when the diagnosis shows that the patella is not moving along the correct path. This technique applies a rectangular bandage over the kneecap holding it in the center of the knee joint to support it when bending and squatting.

  Taping the medial or lateral ligaments involves a crisscross taping method that starts over the knee and crosses over and under the patella. The patella is left exposed and supported by the tape around it. You will add additional strips of support along the medial or lateral ligaments depending on which one is injured.