How to Wrap a Wrist With Athletic Tape

Sports can be a lot of fun, but they are physically demanding, which can lead to injuries. Athletes will tape their joints for added support and protection in many different sports. The wrist is a popular joint to give added support to. However, if you wrap the wrist improperly, you will not give it enough support, or you might restrict the movement too much.

Things You'll Need

  • Athletic tape
  • Scissors
  • Ace bandage
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Instructions

    • 1

      Have the athlete hold his hand with the fingers spread and as if he were going to shake someone's hand.

    • 2

      Use an Ace bandage first to wrap. This is non-stick so the wrist, hand and arm won't need to be shaven. Begin wrapping from below the wrist, work your way up to the hand, making sure to cross the bandage between the thumb and pointer finger from the wrist and from the side of the hand. Repeat the entire wrapping a couple times.

    • 3

      Using the adhesive athletic tape, begin just below where the Ace bandage stops on the forearm. This first wrap will be partially on the bandage and partially on the skin to anchor the bandage. Wrap the wrist as you did with the Ace bandage and repeat it a couple times.

    • 4

      Wrap the hand across the palm, starting from the wrist and running between the thumb and pointer fingers with a piece of tape so that the ends overlap on the back of the wrist. Repeat a couple more times.

    • 5

      Finish off with a few more anchoring wraps around the forearm. The wrist should still be able to move when finished, though not as much into the extended position.