Basketball players tape their fingers in order to prevent injuries to their fingers, such as finger sprains and tendinitis.
A finger sprain is when the ligament on the outside of your finger (the one attached to your palm) is stretched or torn. This causes your finger to become painful and stiff. The cause of a finger sprain is usually overuse or a sudden injury. When you play basketball, your hands are often in a very vulnerable position. Your fingers are not only stretched out in front of you, but they are also curled up at the back of your hand. This position makes it easy for your fingers to be injured. It is estimated that players’ hands cause about 80% of all basketball-related injuries.
Tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon, a cord-like muscle tissue that connects bone to bone or bone to cartilage in your body. Tendons connect muscle to bone and enable you to extend or bend your joints fully.
With the increase of hand injuries in the NBA, many players have turned to tape their fingers. While this technique has been around for a while, it is becoming more popular among players because it provides better coverage and support than gloves and sometimes may prevent injuries like sprained fingers. Some professional basketball players avoid taping their fingers because it can lead to slower moves, but most are willing to give up a little bit of performance for peace of mind.
What is taping?
Taping is simply the process of gluing something to your skin in order to hold it in place. In this case, something being taped to your skin is a piece of medical-grade adhesive tape. The first use of taping was to hold bandages in place and prevent them from falling off. Since then, taping has become so helpful and versatile that it is used for all kinds of things, including Sports Taping.
The Importance of Taping Your Fingers
Taping your fingers is very important, especially if you plan on playing basketball. There are several benefits of taping your fingers:
Prevents Injury – The most significant reason players tape their fingers is to avoid injuries. When you have a healthy finger, it can withstand the forces exerted by the ball and the other players’ hands. However, it may take weeks or months to heal when a ligament or tendon is stretched or torn. This can lead to long-term problems like arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Maintains Flexibility – Another essential benefit of taping your fingers is it maintains flexibility. When you don’t use your finger, it becomes stiff and loses its natural elasticity. However, when you tape your finger, it remains flexible and able to move quickly.
When to tape your fingers?
There are two primary times you should tape your fingers: Pre-game – Many pro basketball players tape their fingers right before they go out on the court. They do this for two main reasons:
1. To prevent injury – Taping your finger can help prevent injury by giving your finger some extra support.
2. Helps give support to injured finger – Taping your sprained finger to a healthy finger will provide it with a bit of extra support as it heals. This will make a big difference, especially during the first couple of weeks after you sprain your finger.
What are the benefits of taping your fingers?
- Preventing Injuries –
The most prominent reason players tape their fingers is to prevent injuries. When you have a healthy finger, it can withstand the forces exerted by the ball and the other players’ hands. However, it may take weeks or months to heal when a ligament or tendon is stretched or torn. This can lead to long-term problems like arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. - Reducing Swelling and Bruising –
Another thing players taper their fingers for is to reduce swelling and bruising. When you don’t use your finger for a few days, it will swell up quite a bit. Taping your finger will reduce this swelling and keep your finger from becoming tense and bloated. This will make it easier to move your finger and improve circulation. It will also make it possible to remove the tape easier when you do need to use your finger. How do you tape your fingers? There are many different ways to tape your fingers. One of the most common ways is by using athletic tape. - Maximizing Performance –
This is especially important if you plan on returning to competitive play right away. If you wait too long to start using your finger again, it may never regain its full strength and flexibility. - Strengthening Muscles and Tissues –
The biggest benefit of taping your fingers is it helps to strengthen the muscles and tissues around your finger. Over time, this will help prevent injuries and improve your finger’s range of motion. What are the disadvantages of taping your fingers? It is uncomfortable – The first thing you need to remember about taping your fingers is it is extremely uncomfortable. When you remove the tape, the swelling and bruising will be very much present. This causes discomfort when you use your finger. In addition, the tape itself can irritate your skin. It gets into your hair and gets all over your clothes.
Conclusions
Basketball players tape their fingers to help prevent injuries or to prevent finger injuries from becoming more serious. Basketball players tape their fingers for several reasons: Taping your fingers has many benefits. It helps prevent injuries, and it helps improve your performance.
