nari
15-03-2004, 08:28 AM
Bon jour Bernard
In Australia we tape almost anything that might move. Shoulders (works well for hemiplegic pain), knees, ankles, wrists, fingers, scapula/e, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, elbows. There is little evidence that taping supports a joint (except for ankle injury in sporty folk) but it does relieve pain. How this occurs seems unclear, but my bet is that the proprioceptive effect calms the cranky nerve fibres.
While on my trek into the tasmanian wilderness, and negotiating a steep section covered in mud and tree roots, I placed my hand against a tree trunk, then slipped. My MF was forced back into full hyperextension of all the IP joints, and there was a snap,--> pain. After establishing the joints seemed OK, I strapped it that afternoon with micropore, a thin, wispy adhesive tape (all that we had). Instant pain relief. It could still flex, but the PIP was unable to fully extend due to the colourful effusion and swelling.
What interested me was the rapid relief of pain (seconds). Psychological?
Proprioceptive? Mild++ immobilisation? Against the advice of the doctor and physio (trek members), I refused to tape it more than overnight. Next day I moved it constantly, mechanically and neurally. Much better.
Standard procedure would indicate strapping for longer, but I did not want to lose ROM.
Knees? PFPS? The jury is out. I find with the so-called PF syndrome, it does not matter where the tape is placed - it gives pain relief.
Lumbar spine taping into gentle extension works quite well, too, if loss of 'normal' ext. is a feature.
Thoracic spine taping works well for males with hairy backs - if they slump, it pulls hard on the hairs. Long term effect is probably only gained if they consciously learn what an appropriate functional posture feels like.
Nari
In Australia we tape almost anything that might move. Shoulders (works well for hemiplegic pain), knees, ankles, wrists, fingers, scapula/e, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, elbows. There is little evidence that taping supports a joint (except for ankle injury in sporty folk) but it does relieve pain. How this occurs seems unclear, but my bet is that the proprioceptive effect calms the cranky nerve fibres.
While on my trek into the tasmanian wilderness, and negotiating a steep section covered in mud and tree roots, I placed my hand against a tree trunk, then slipped. My MF was forced back into full hyperextension of all the IP joints, and there was a snap,--> pain. After establishing the joints seemed OK, I strapped it that afternoon with micropore, a thin, wispy adhesive tape (all that we had). Instant pain relief. It could still flex, but the PIP was unable to fully extend due to the colourful effusion and swelling.
What interested me was the rapid relief of pain (seconds). Psychological?
Proprioceptive? Mild++ immobilisation? Against the advice of the doctor and physio (trek members), I refused to tape it more than overnight. Next day I moved it constantly, mechanically and neurally. Much better.
Standard procedure would indicate strapping for longer, but I did not want to lose ROM.
Knees? PFPS? The jury is out. I find with the so-called PF syndrome, it does not matter where the tape is placed - it gives pain relief.
Lumbar spine taping into gentle extension works quite well, too, if loss of 'normal' ext. is a feature.
Thoracic spine taping works well for males with hairy backs - if they slump, it pulls hard on the hairs. Long term effect is probably only gained if they consciously learn what an appropriate functional posture feels like.
Nari