Hamstring injuries occur frequently in all sports, and sports trainers must know the proper techniques for bandaging them. Bandaging can prevent further swelling, and can help an athlete recover from his injury much more quickly than if he did not get it wrapped. Bandaging a hamstring requires a compression pad, tape and a compression bandage — and diligence when bandaging.
Shaving and Pressure Pad
Preparing the area that is to be bandaged, or wrapped, is essential in making the injured athlete more comfortable and identifying where the pressure pad needs to go. Shaving the area is a way to prevent discomfort when the tape and wrap are removed in the future, as the combination of pulled tape and sticky adhesive is sure to rip leg hairs out. The Sports Injury Clinic website recommends applying a pressure pad on the spot of injury after preparing the area.
Anchor Strips
Anchor strips provide a border for the injured area and a guideline for the rest of the bandaging. The Sports Injury Clinic recommends using 2-inch, non-stretch, zinc oxide tape when placing anchor strips. One strip goes on the outside of the injured spot, and the other strip goes on the inside. The strips should be parallel, making an equal sign, with the injured spot between the pieces of tape.
Support Strips
Support strips begin to tighten around the injured area. They are made from the same type of tape used for anchor strips. The first support strip should start below the injured spot on the bottom of one anchor strip, and stripe up diagonally, wrapping around the leg. The second support strip begins on the bottom of the other anchor strip, and should be applied with the same motion, crisscrossing the first one. Wrappers want to make an "X" with the first two support strips. This step should be repeated, working upward, and starting each new "X" an inch above the previous one. The Sports Injury Clinic cautions against wrapping completely around the leg, as this would cut off circulation.
Tearing Tape
According to course materials from an athletic training class at Weber State University, those wrapping a hamstring injury must be careful with how they tear the tape. The document recommends allowing the athlete to hold the unused roll of tape while the wrapper is working, and that bending, twisting or wrinkling tape should be avoided. Wrappers should look for straight edges with no loose strands when they tear; this might need to be done with cutting agents like scissors or knives.
Compression Bandage
After the taping, apply the compression bandage. The recommended width for the compression bandage is 6 inches; it should start at the bottom of one of the anchor strips before working upward at a 45-degree angle. When the wrapper reaches the top of the tape, he should do a horizontal loop around the leg and begin wrapping downward at a 45-degree angle, tugging occasionally to tighten the compression bandage. The Sports Injury Clinic advises the wrapper to have the injured athlete tense up his muscle during this step.
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