Finger sprains are a common injury that cause a stretching or tearing of the ligaments in one or more of your fingers -- including your index finger. These ligaments -- strong, connected tissue bands that hold your bones to each other -- are responsible for supporting the joints of your finger. Finger sprains usually are the result of a direct blow to the finger during athletics, but can also occur if you were to fall on your hand. As an athlete, you can benefit from taping your index finger should it be injured or weak. Athletic tape helps to provide support and allows you to return to the game more quickly following an injury.
Step 1
Clean your index finger along with the adjacent healthy finger with soap and water prior to taping.
Step 2
Position one piece of athletic tape on your healthy adjacent finger. Place the tape on the outer edge of your finger and position it so it is just below your proximal interphalangeal joint -- or PIP joint. This is the joint located in the middle of your finger.
Step 3
Run the tape underneath your two fingers until you have created a full loop around your fingers.
Step 4
Make one more loop around your PIP joint with athletic tape. Tape over the existing tape for added support.
Step 5
Apply another loop of tape just above your PIP joint. Make an additional loop around this taping for added support.
Things You'll Need
- 1/2 inch athletic tape
References
- "Athletic Taping and Bracing 2nd Edition"; David H. Perrin; May 2005
- Auora Health Care: Finger Sprains; Amy Scholten
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