SSCE HSC Personal Development and Physical Education Recovery strategies: To what extent is taping effecti

Question

To what extent is taping effective in preventing sports injuries?

Taping can play a significant role in preventing injury. Taping can protect, support or strengthen a joint during movement. Sports such as basketball, soccer and netball that require agility, speed, power can place considerable stress on the joints as times will require high levels of movement and frequent changes of direction, so the joints at times will endure high levels of stress. With this in mind, taping can be employed to prevent injury.

If an injury has been sustained taping is required during the rehabilitation process. Taping permits the athlete to participate in body conditioning exercises to maintain fitness as much as they can during recuperation. For example, if an injury may be healed but requires resting in training. In these circumstances, support can be provided while the injured area becomes accustomed to the full activity and thereby prevent any further injury from occurring.

However, there are some disadvantages to the use of taping to prevent injury. Individuals can develop a reliance on taping which can restrict a range of motion and reduce an athlete’s proprioception.

Despite some limitations, most professional athletes such as AFL and NRL players are required by their clubs to use preventative taping measures on high mobility joints (such as ankles) to prevent injury.

Justify the rehabilitation procedures used to manage specific sporting injuries.

To ensure an athlete can return to play as soon as possible following a hamstring injury, a variety of rehabilitation processes should be implemented. These should include progressive mobilization, graduated exercise (including stretching, conditioning and total body fitness), training and the use of heat and cold. When each step is correctly addressed, it will increase the likelihood of a speedy reintroduction to sport.

Progressive mobilization is necessary to enhance the range of movement available at the hamstring. A hamstring tear causes severe damage to muscle and connective tissues in tendons and ligaments, leading to scar tissue formation and immobilization. Active passive movement allows range of motion and engages muscle contraction. An example can be range of motion exercises for someone who has experienced hamstring strain. It is important that the athlete is ready to undertake this phase as passive and active movements are slow, circumscribed, and the range progresses as the muscle stiffness subsides.

After the injured site has been mobilized, graduated exercise is introduced in the form of stretching, conditioning and total body fitness. Stretching is beneficial as it reduces muscle tension, increases circulation, increases dedicated muscle length and promotes range of motion at the injured site. Stretching can be in the form of PNF and static stretches at this stage, ensuring stretching occurs and there is no pain. Conditioning of a shoulder injury is vital because any unresolved muscle tightness should be addressed to limit further injury. Some of these movements for a shoulder injury might include anterior deltoid raises with low resistance or color bands. Total body fitness exercises in this step in the graduated exercise process. It is essential that overall fitness is restored, not just the recovery of the shoulder dislocation. The choice of total body fitness exercises will depend on the type and severity of the injury. In the case of a shoulder dislocation, some fitness exercises might include light resistance training through the use of elastic bands and low intensity swimming. Graduated exercise is relevant because it assists in the recovery process of the shoulder dislocation.

Although an athlete may have returned to full fitness, strength and condition, they are still not efficient to return to competition. Instead, they must undertake training to ensure speed, agility and muscle control to ensure they may return to the lower prowess to re-entering the senior team. It has been found that this will ensure physiological readiness for them to return to full competition.

To what extent is taping effective in preventing sports injuries? Taping can play a significant role in preventing injury - HSC - SSCE Personal Development and Physical Education - Question 31 - 2014 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:To what extent is taping effective in preventing sports injuries? Taping can play a significant role in preventing injury - HSC - SSCE Personal Development and Physical Education - Question 31 - 2014 - Paper 1

Justify the rehabilitation procedures used to manage specific sporting injuries.

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