[music]
I'm Chris Harper and with me today is Melissa and we are demonstrating an
application for thumb pain.
Thumb pain can be pain at the base of the thumb or towards the wrist.
And this may have many causes including overuse, inflammation,
tendinitis, repeated strain or blunt-force over that area.
KT Tape helps treat this condition,
it creates support and stability over the area, increases circulation, reduces
pressure and offers a mechanical assist.
For this application we need to position the thumb in an up position with
the end of the thumb just down slightly kind of like a bird's head.
And our first piece of tape just going to be a full strip
which we will cut longitudinally right down the middle of the tape,
so cutting it into two long strips. I like to round the corners of the tape
this is just so doesn't get caught on clothing while taking shirts on and off.
Rounding those corners a little bit
okay, for our first piece we're going to twist and tear the paper backing
creating an anchor point and being very careful not to touch the adhesive.
I'm going to apply this piece just over the end of the thumb, over the thumb nail.
And peeling that paper off down just leaving about an inch on the end
we're going to stretch that tape about fifty percent so if this is a
full stretch we're going to back that half way off
and apply that tape down.
Now again, I'm leaving the end of the tape with absolutely zero stretch.
And now we need to tap that tape down we're going to drop the wrist into a comfortable
position and then tap that down give it a quick little rub just so that
it adheres. And for our second piece, very similar we're going to tear the
paper backing twist and tear
that back again being very careful not to touch that adhesive.
I'm just going off the end of the thumb, wrap that around it so it adheres well.
We're going to take this piece back again stretching about fifty percent,
maybe slightly more I'm just going to try and place
that anchor just behind the first one
and apply that down with zero stretch. And again dropping that wrist down
We're going to then tap that taped over area.
Give that a quick little rub, and for our second piece
I'm going to tear a second full stripped this time
I'm going to use a pair of scissors and cut rounded corners so I have two short strips.
The rounded corners are so that it doesn't get caught on clothing.
And for this piece we're going to drop that wrist down in a comfortable position
I'm going to twist and tear the paper backing
and we're going to stretch this tape with our thumbs with even pressure.
So I'm not pulling like this but rather flattening my thumbs on the tape and
stretching that out we're going to stretch this piece to eighty percent so if
that's one-hundred we're backing that off just a little bit.
We're going to apply that right over the base of thumb,
lying that down. Let's make sure that it adheres before I peel this lasted bit of paper off
and apply that down with zero stretch.
Doing the same thing on this other side,
just lying that down with zero stretch For our last piece, again twisting
and tearing that paper even pressure with the thumbs.
We're going to just behind that first piece we're going to apply that down
We're going to lay those ends down,
it may be helpful if you bring that wrist back up into a neutral or starting position
for laying the anchors down. Apply that down like so.
Going to give the whole thing a good friction rub, that activates the adhesive,
gets the tape to stick well. Some tips with this application
washing your hands very well and also maybe shaving the area if you have some
hair which will help the adhesion of the tape.
Some complementary treatments may be rest, ice, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs such as ibuprofen, and some light
and frequent massage over the area may be helpful as well
Please seek professional care if you have severe pain, clicking, popping,
swelling or discoloration over the area.
For more information please see our website at www.kttape.com