Boxers use sports tape, also known as boxing wraps, to protect and support their hands and wrists during boxing. This helps prevent injuries such as sprains, fractures, and tendonitis that can result from the impact of punches.
The tape and wraps provide extra stability and prevent the hands and wrists from moving too much during punching.
Main reasons why boxers use sports tape:
- Protection: sports tape helps protect the vulnerable bones, joints, and tendons in the hands and wrists from the impact of punches.
- Stability: the tape and wraps provide extra stability and support to the hand and wrist, reducing the risk of injuries.
- Prevention of overuse: with the support of the tape, the hands and wrists can better handle repeated stress during boxing.
- Improved performance: the support and stability provided by the tape can also enhance the boxer's performance.
- Complement to boxing gloves: sports tape is often used in combination with boxing gloves for extra protection and support.
For training: regular (boxing) wraps
Note: most boxers, kickboxers, and other (combat) athletes use regular wraps during training. Taping with sports tape is mainly done in professional matches and fights. This is usually applied by a specialist, trainer, or sometimes even a ringside doctor.
Being skilled at taping is an art you can learn yourself, and it can help many athletes. The examples above are the most well-known, but you can also use taping to assist with bruises, sprains, and other injuries. Even bruised ribs are sometimes taped to provide some relief and support.
Use sports tape for support and injury prevention
Sports tape and/or medical tape (such as kinesiology tape) can be used for support, pain relief, and recovery from sports injuries and overuse. It is also often used to prevent injuries.
Taping as a (sports medical) aid works by lifting the skin and underlying tissues. This reduces pressure on targeted areas and stimulates blood circulation. It also provides a massaging effect, which promotes pain relief and recovery.
Good sports tape, such as those from McDavid and MSP ProTape, is elastic, skin-friendly, and can be worn during sports and showering.
Make sure tape is always applied by a professional and/or expert!
