How to tape Skier’s thumb

Many injuries can occur during skiing, of which the ski thumb is one of the most common. It is an acute trauma to the thumb joint, often a long-term and annoying injury. In the case of a skier’s thumb, the ligament of the knuckle joint (MCP-I joint) on the inside of the thumb is stretched, slack or torn. This injury can also occur during ball games, when the ball hits the thumb at high speed. The symptoms can also occur following a trauma (accident or fall).

 

“Game keepers thumb” is the chronic form of a skier’s thumb, usually caused by prolonged, repetitive movements of the thumb. This causes the capsule to stretch, the thumb joint to become unstable and wear out.

Symptoms of a skier’s thumb:

• Unstable feeling of the knuckle joint.
• Loss of strength.
• In the event of acute trauma, swelling and/or discolouration is visible.
• Pain on the inside of the thumb at the coccyx joint (where the thumb begins) and when moving the thumb.

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Treatment with CureTape for a skier’s cleft

If the ligaments of the thumb joint are torn, surgery is necessary.

In the event of instability, arthritis, a tear or a strain, CureTape can be applied in addition to the therapeutic treatment in order to reduce the pain and promote the recovery process.

Skier’s thumb taping

Below is a step-by-step explanation of how this injury can be taped using two strips of CureTape.

First strip: Cut a strip 0.5 cm wide and about 15 to 20 cm long.

Apply the base of the first tape, without tension, to the radial side of the thumb.

Then use the ligament technique and make a cross over the medial side of the first MCP joint, ending on the dorsal side.

Second strip: Cut a strip 1 to 1.5 cm wide and about 25 to 30 cm long.

Apply the base without stretching to the inside of the first MCP joint. Then apply the tape with a slight stretch over the palmar side of the thumb towards the lateral side, then over the dorsal side of the thumb in the direction of the back of the hand. Finally, over the base of the fifth metacarpal to the palmar side of the hand joint back to the base of the metacarpal phalange (MCP)1. The tape strip forms an 8.

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More information:

• Request a CureTape® sample pack for free »
• Continue reading about CureTape kinesiology tape and it’s effectiveness »
• Browse through the CureTape products in our webshop »
• Continue reading about kinesiology taping instructions »

Please note that applications provided on our website are not clinically proven. All mentioned applications are based on extensive evaluation and case studies with licensed physiotherapists and/or other health professionals.
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