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In many sports, both the skin of the fingers and the finger joints are heavily stressed. Thatâs why tapes are used for climbing. Taping is a somewhat newer technique. You can ultimately tape every muscle and every joint. This gives you the necessary stability in your muscles and joints in your fingers when climbing. With finger tapes, you are able to prevent injuries.
With the help of finger tapes*, you can also treat muscles and joints very well after injuries. Wherever the arms, hands and fingers are excessively stressed during sports, the taping method makes sense.Â
The first part of this article gives you some tips about the best finger tapes for climbing at the moment. In the second part, you will learn how to best protect your fingers when climbing with taping.Â
The Best Finger Tapes for Climbing
Experience is and remains the best advisor. So try some finger tapes and see which tape suits you best. Not all climbing hands are the same. When climbing, it always depends on the appropriate width of the climbing tape. Only then will you be able to use the Finger Tape correctly. The tape should be reliable. You will find a large selection in common online shops like amazon*.Â
The prices are completely different from different brands. A climbing tape should have good tear-off properties and optimum adhesive properties. Most tapes have the necessary grip, are breathable and allergy-tested and hold even when wet or sweaty.Â
Metolius Climbing Tape
The tear-off properties of the Metolius tape* are very good. The length is 10 meters (about 33 feet) and the width of the adhesive tape is 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches). You can tape your fingers about 201 times with this. The Climbing Tape has very good adhesive properties.
This climbing tape takes first place on our list because it is perfect for climbers new to finger taping. This is because in every pack there is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to apply the tape correctly.
Armadillo Finger Tape
The Armadillo tape* is made from pure cotton, latex-free and is very robust and reliable. It is designed to stay on sweaty fingers for a long time. This is also because of its high adhesive power. But despite this, it doesnât leave you with sticky fingers when you pull it off again.
The combination of strong and thin fabrics and the outstanding performance make this tape one of the best finger tapes for rock climbing. Each pack contains six rolls with a width of 0.3 inches and a length of 45 feet.
Evolv Magic Finger Tape
The Evolv Magic Finger Tape* really is magic! It doesnât stick too much but stays on your fingers even if they are soaking wet! This tape stretches not a tiny bit and is very easy to tear and apply.
It allows for free circulation and is extremly thin. Especially for longer climbs or quick hardcore sessions in the gym, this tape stands its ground. There are climbers that only use this tape as their favorite!
The right Choice of Finger Tape is crucial for Climbing
Not every tape is equally suitable for climbing. In recent years, the fabric roll has developed into an all-purpose product. Finger tapes are used for serious injuries and light injuries. Climbers like to grab the tape when there is a draft in their finger. But not all tape is the same. The elastic Kinesio tapes* are suitable for the treatment of knee or shoulder problems. For climbing you rather need an inelastic sport tape*.Â
If the skin can hardly withstand the constantly new attacks of rough grips, then passionate climbers use tapes for their fingers. A tape like this gives you the support you need. Because a sports tape does not give way under stress. Also, pay attention to quality. With a tape with a weak adhesive, chalk, sweat and the friction of the handles quickly ensure that the adhesive tape quickly bids farewell to your fingers. The effect is no longer there and the loose bandage disturbs you when climbing.
How do you protect your Fingers when climbing with Finger Tapes?
The strength of the ligaments and tendons is also often overused by climbers. Climbers are often confronted with capsule tears, painful contusions or tendon irritations. With the Finger Tapes, you can protect your fingers with the right application. The effect of the tapestry can, however, only unfold if it is handled correctly.Â
But as an experienced climber or ambitious newcomer, you can probably imagine that the taping process only works if you follow certain rules. On the one hand, you should warm up your fingers well before climbing. If possible, do not put too much strain on your fingers at the beginning of the climb. On the other hand, you should always use a finger tape to relieve injured capsules or tendons.
Special climbing gloves* are a completely different way of protecting your fingers and hands when climbing. In this article, you will learn everything about them: Climbing with Gloves đ„ Best Of & Buying Guide
Fingers are sensitive Parts of the Body.
When climbing, it is important that you try right from the start to slowly and gently accustom your fingers to harder loads. The slow approaching of your fingers protects them from unnecessary injuries. Because the fingers should never be overloaded, they are extremely sensitive.Â
Although fingers are in daily use, you should keep in mind that they are poorly supplied with blood. Therefore, they must be warmed up particularly well before the climb. There are no muscles in the fingers. The tendons thus all converge in the forearms. The tendons, cartilage and ligaments take much longer to adapt to a higher load than the muscles. With the right protection for your fingers, you can concentrate on the continuous and slow development of your finger strength.
Instructions for correct Finger Taping when Climbing
To get the most out of the taping effect, you should tape your finger step by step. No matter which color you choose, cut the tape exactly so that the width of the tape corresponds approximately to your finger. The movement of your fingers must not be restricted. If this is the case, then you can use the taping for the whole finger.Â
With a slightly longer tape, you can place it from the top of the hand (middle) to the fingertip. Then you attach the already laid out tape exactly at the tip of your finger with another much smaller tape. You can also fix it on your thumb or wrist. In this way, you prevent slippage at the base.
How long can Finger Tapes be worn in one piece?
The duration of the application of a finger tape depends on several factors. If you do not suffer injury and are not in a phase of recovery and reconstruction, then there are two possibilities. If you want to protect your fingers especially when climbing, it is sufficient to wear the tape on your fingers only during physical strain.Â
Ideally, you can put on a finger tape directly before climbing. As far as the durability of the tapes is concerned, you could theoretically wear the finger tapes for five or seven days. However, since you will surely come into contact with water, you should leave a finger tape in place for three days at the most. Always make sure that the finger tape is in no way under tension. Only then will your metacarpophalangeal joint receive sufficient stability. You can also prevent strong stretching or flexion.
Does Finger Tape protect the Fingers from Injuries?
It may be a myth that bandaged fingers protect the climber from injuries. Surely the tapes give you stability and also a certain protection. With a finger tape, you can very efficiently mask blisters or calluses of the cornea and thus protect them from the threatening rupture.Â
But when it comes to injuries to the capsules or the ligaments, the best way to avoid them is to be careful. If a feeling of pressure or pain announces itself while climbing, your structures on your fingers reach their limits. Youâll have to slow down if this happens! In this way, you protect yourself and your fingers much better than any good tape could.
Finger Tape can help you with Injuries
Accidents can happen while climbing. You will hardly find a climber who hasnât had painful or torn fingers in his climbing career. A tape bandage can help you with injuries so that you do not have to do without your beloved hobby despite an injury.Â
The adhesive tape supports your tape apparatus and can largely compensate for skin loss. But here, too, the rule of thumb applies: much does not always help much. When climbing, the correctly applied tape gives you the desired relief. So it makes absolutely no sense if you mummify your fingers in case of an injury.
When exactly and why is Taping used for Climbing?
If you use the tape wisely and correctly, you can avoid many ugly and unnecessary situations. As mentioned before, try to warm up your hands as much as possible before exposing them to heavy strain. You should primarily use the tape in a healthy environment when climbing.Â
Otherwise, the finger tape can do you more harm than good. Tight tape layers donât necessarily bring you the help youâre hoping for. Only if you apply the finger tapes correctly, the adhesive tapes can adapt perfectly to the motion of your fingers.
Taping has several Basic Rules
However, do not regard taping as a substitute for the treatment of a doctor. If you have been suffering from a loss of function or pain in your fingers for several days, do not even try to ignore the pain. Seek out a specialist and initiate targeted treatment. If a tape is used, you can use the adhesive tape to build up a point pressure. In another place, you can relieve the pressure by means of a tape. There are a few basic rules you should follow when taping:
- So that you donât restrict the blood circulation when taping, be careful not to place the tape too tightly around your finger.
- When taping, the functional position of the corresponding finger must be taken into account.
- Do not choose the width of the tape too thick.
- Do not shave off the hair on your fingers before taping, otherwise, there is a risk of infection.
- When taping, make sure that there is not too much tension, this can cause skin cracks.
- The finger skin should always be dry and free of grease before taping.
In modern Medicine, Taping is regarded as Prophylaxis and Therapy.
Tape bandages have become indispensable in many sports. In modern sports medicine, adhesive tapes are regarded as ideal aids for therapy and at the same time serve as excellent prophylactics.Â
According to sports physicians, however, a general prophylactic taping should be avoided. The body is considered to be a dynamic system through and through, which usually reacts to stimuli with a stimulus-response. In order for the capsule-ligament apparatus necessary for climbing to strengthen, it is dependent on a certain amount of stress.Â
This means that the fingers need the stimulus in order to better withstand the strain. If, on the other hand, the stimulus is constantly suppressed, the necessary adjustments are not made. In contrast, therapeutic taping is necessary for stress problems. Particularly with minor injuries, many climbers are able to resume climbing more quickly after an injury break.
Prevention â Support â Relief
However, climbing is not always about fatigue and injuries to the joints. Not only internal injuries on the individual fingers play a role in climbing. The skin is exposed to extreme stress during climbing. Prophylactically you can protect yourself with tape against scratches and skin abrasions.Â
As a rule, the knuckles and the backs of the hands are always affected. So that you donât lose your climbing fun, you are well-advised to protect yourself from abrasions, which can be very painful. According to the motto âPrevention is better than cureâ. The three most important keywords for Finger Taping are thus: Prevent, support and relieve.
So when does taping make sense? Do you have to struggle with strained or inflamed middle finger joints or do you have problems with the metacarpophalangeal joints or the end finger joints? Taping is then worthwhile for tendon strain, capsule inflammation or capsule strain. However, you will not be spared the trip to the specialist with such problems.
Attention: You have to take care of your safety when climbing! The information on climbtheearth.com only helps you to learn. Before you climb, you should make sure that you have been properly instructed by an expert and that you follow all safety precautions.
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