Taping in sports and rehabilitation

Effective use of taping in polo sport

(Andreas Krüger MD @Poloplus10.com)

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Since the European Football Championship in 2012 at the latest, we have known what tape is in sport. Muscles tensed to the max, a petrified gaze - the pose of Mario Balotelli after his 2-0 victory over Germany in the semi-finals. Bare perfectly trained upper body. This winner pose has immediately etched itself into the collective memory of European Championship spectators worldwide. But how much effect is really hidden in these audience-effective, glued-on, brightly coloured tapes? More power, less pain, more precision and faster recovery after exhausting competitions?

The success of this method has lasted for over 30 years. In 1979, the Japanese Dr. Kenzo Kase had the brilliant pioneering idea of supporting his chiropractic treatment with elastic cotton tapes and prolonging its effect. Dr. Kase began his tape therapy for sumo wrestlers using skin-coloured adhesive tapes that were modelled on the texture of the skin. The finely woven, breathable and highly elastic cotton is glued with tension to affected parts of the body. This is intended to cause additional displacement of the skin layers, as the skin is slightly lifted by the movement and the pressure on the pain receptors in the lower skin layer is reduced. The visually appealing application technique is intended to trigger a stimulating effect on the muscles. According to the manufacturer (whose names are manifold), an additional effect of the increased blood circulation and the resulting supported drainage of lymph fluid are the result and serve for better regeneration.

The study situation in the electronic medical world literature (Pubmed) currently shows no uniformly significant results regarding the sustained effect of different tape variants. There are, however, case reports that have demonstrated the tendency for improvements in strength and pain in athletes of different colours.

In the sport of polo, injuries to the muscles and the tendons and ligaments of the beating arm regularly occur due to excessive strain. Punches of the opponent in hot duels as well as the frequent falls leave painful injuries. Also back problems during the powerful blows in an otherwise unfamiliar position over the neck of the pony take their toll due to the maximum strain on the body. Within a tournament, the elastic tapes can be applied to stabilize the shoulder and the player can continue to play without shoulder dislocation. Even after the stroke on the thumb of the batting arm, the swelling can be supported by applying the tape in a lymph drainage stimulating way. In the last chukker, when strength becomes the decisive factor, upper arm or forearm taping can influence the player's condition. A stabilising tape can also be helpful in the case of acute knee injuries.

Polo player Andres "Lala" Laplacette is delighted with the effect of the tapes: "I tried the tapes for the first time at the Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan in Baku. There I had injured my back very painfully. Before that, I had seen similar tapes with other athletes and wondered if they could help me. I tried the tapes and felt relieved. It was as if someone was holding my back muscles. Additionally, they were warmed by the tapes. I could continue the game without any problems. I was overjoyed because being in Baku for the first polo tournament was a great opportunity for all of us. On the last day of the tournament, Dr. Krüger placed a tape on my arm, because I was hurting all over. I would have loved to have the tape all over my body!"

Tapes also helped Tito Gaudenzi (polo player) a lot: "In polo we are exposed to many abrupt and extreme movements. It's the nature of the sport: the speed, the riding, the playing. Especially the back and shoulders suffer from it. Tapes can quickly improve these problems. Applied before the game, they stabilize and improve mobility. At one of my last tournaments in Baku, I had severe pain in my lumbar region from a previous injury. Dr. Andreas Krüger helped me to get fit again for the match. The right work-out before the match and especially the correct taping allowed me to continue fighting. I can highly recommend taping for all kinds of sports. It's a simple and yet very effective solution."

So the conclusion is that modern science cannot prove it - but are Mario Balotelli, Serena Williams and David Beckham wrong? In any case, they have achieved their sporting achievements.

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Summarized advantages of taping

• Muscle activation

• Restoration of the injury

• Edema control (reduction of swelling)

• Posture correction

• Pregnancy support

• Support for sporting and athletic performance

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Sports Taping

Effective use of taping in the sport of polo

(Andreas Krüger MD @Poloplus10.com)

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We know about taping in sport since the 2012 European Football Championship at the latest. The muscles maximum tense, with a stony look - the posture of Mario Balotelli in the semi-final against Germany after making it 2-0. Bare, perfectly trained chest. This winning pose immediately burned itself into the spectator's minds. But what effects do these catchpenny, affixed and gaudily coloured tapes really have? More strength, less pain, more precision and a rapid recovery after exhausting competitions?

The success of this method lasts for more than 30 years. In 1979, the Japanese Dr. Kenzo Kase had the dazzling idea to support and extend the effect his chiropractic therapy by use of elastic cotton tapes. Dr. Kase started his tape therapy with sumo wrestlers by use of skin-coloured tapes, which are based on the consistency of the skin. The finely woven, breathable and highly elastic cotton is glued with tension on affected body locations. Through this, an additional shift of the layers of skin is supposed to take place, because through the movement the skin is being lifted and the pressure on the pain receptors in the lower layers of skin is being reduced. A stimulating effect for the muscles is meant to be induced through the visual appealing technique of application. According to the producers, an additional effect of the heightened circulation and the hereby supported drain of lymph fluid are a consequence of this and conduce to a better regeneration.

The scientific findings in the electronic medical world literature (Pubmed) currently show no consistent, significant results regarding the enduring effect of different tape variants. But case reports exist which achieved to prove the tendential improvement through different applications of the tapes regarding strenght and pain of the athletes of all shades.

In the sport of Polo, injuries of the muscles as well as of the sinews and ligaments of the arms which beat the ball develop regularly due to excessive stress. Strikes of the opponent during a tackling as well as the not uncommon downfalls leave painful injuries. Back complaints as a result of strong strikes in an unusual position over the neck of the pony also take a toll on the players due to the maximum strain of the body. During a tournament the applications of the elastic tapes can accomplish a stabilisation of the shoulder and the player can finish the match without a dislocation of the shoulder. Even after a blow on the thumb of the arm which beats the balls the application of a tape can support the detumescence through the drain of the lymph fluid. In the last chukker, when strength becomes the decisive factor, the condition of the player can be influenced by tapings of the upper arm and the forearm. The stabilising tapes can also be helpful at acute knee injuries.

Polo player Andres "Lala" Laplacette is excited about the effect of the tapes: "I tried the tapes for the first time in Baku (during the Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan). I fell on my back, and it was hurting quite bad! I had seen similar tapes before on other athletes and I was wondering whether they could help me or not. After trying them I felt more relieved. On the one side it seems like somebody was holding the muscles of my back. And on the other side, the tapes were keeping them warm. I could play the rest of the games with no problem! I was really happy because it was a big opportunity for all of us to play polo there for the first time. On the last day the Dr. Krüger placed me one on my arm, because after two games on the days before, everything was hurting. So I would have liked tapes all over my body!

The tapes also helped Tito Gaudenzi (polo player) a great deal: "I have had a great experience with tapping in my sport. In Polo we are exposed to a lot of abrupt and extreme movements given the nature of the sport, the speed, riding the horse and playing the game. "A lot of common issues are back and shoulder problems. Both can rapidly be improved by taping it the right way before the game. It gives it more stability and increasing movement. In one of my last tournaments in Baku, Azerbaijan I had experienced some severe lower back pain from a prior injury. Dr. Andreas Krüger helped me be ready for the game through the right pre-game work out and most importantly the correct tapping that allowed me to successfully compete again. I can only strongly recommend taping in my sport or any other. Its a simple and effective solution that can easily be applied if and when done correctly.

In summery, it can be said, therefore, that modern science cannot prove it - but are Mario Balotelli, Serena Williams and David Beckham off the base? In any case they have delivered their sporting performances.

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Summarized benefits of taping

• Pain relief

• muscle activation

• Injury recovery

• Oedema control (swelling reduction)

• Postural correction

• pregnancy support

• Assisting athletic & sports performance

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