1. Gauze and Tape
When a knee injury involves an incision or break in the skin, you will need to use both gauze pads and tape. To tape an injured knee, place the gauze pads over the injury. Place some tape around the edges of the gauze pads to secure them to the skin. Next, wrap tape all the way around the leg eight or ten times. Tape around the leg helps stabilize the knee and keeps it from bending.
2. Ace Bandages
If the knee injury does not involve a break in the skin, the you can use a bandage to wrap the knee. Apply the bandage, starting a few inches above the knee. Wrap the bandage around the knee several times as you move downward. Make sure that you do not wrap it too tight or too loose. It should fit comfortably and prevent the knee from bending and moving. If the skin around the knee shows deep indentations or the color of the skin turns blue or red, then the bandage is wrapped too tight. A tightly wrapped bandage will also cause swelling. Make sure you securely end off the bandage with the pins or Velcro. If it has pins, you may want to place a small piece of tape over the pins so that they do not fall off. The main purpose of a bandage is to provide support and compression to the injured part.
3. Kling Wrap: No Tape Needed
Kling wrap can hold gauze pads or other bandages in place or it can take the place of a bandage. It is applied to the knee in the same manner as the bandage. However, with Kling wrap, it will stick to itself and you will not need tape, pins or Velcro to hold it in place.
4. Tape Alone
Sometimes an injury will not require a bandage or a gauze pad. In these cases, tape can provide support to the injured knee. When applying tape directly to the injured knee, you should wrap it around the knee. Do not wrap it too loosely or to tightly. Be cautious of bony prominences on the knee. Tape usually does not work well on bony prominences. It is best to place the tape around them.
