How to Tape Fingers

Taping fingers is good for minor injuries of the middle joint because taping supports the injured area without preventing motion. Learn how to tape fingers and stay fit in this sports medicine video.

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Injuring the middle joints of fingers is common
Support above and below joint
Allow flexibility in the joint
Check for deformities
Ice &anti-inflammatories can help

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Mike Vera is an athletic trainer the Roger Clemens Institute at Memorial Hermann Hospital. The Clemens Institute is the largest, most comprehensive medically based sports program in the Southwest.

MIKE VERA: I'd like to talk to you about taping fingers. It seems pretty simple, but it can be very, very intense. Since people are more physically active, they are more likely to hurt their fingers, especially the PIP joint or the middle joint of your fingers. An easy way to do it is simply take two pieces of tape and you want to support above and below that joint. Again, it does not have to be anything very fancy to allow flexibility in the joint. The reason you buddy tape is if this is the injured finger, when this finger moves, it makes the other one move, too. Obviously, if there isn't a fracture and there is injury to the PIP joint or even the distal joint, you still want to make sure you move it. You want to make sure that as you look for the injury that you do not see any deformities such as a boutonniere fracture or a mallet finger. Simple injuries to the fingers, buddy taping. You also want to be aware of injuries to the nail beds, so trim your nails when you are physically active. Ice, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories ought to do the trick.

How to Tape Fingers Video

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