Effects of using rigid tape with bandaging techniques on wrist joint motion during boxing shots in elite male athletes

Gatt, Ian T, Allen, Tom ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4910-9149 and Wheat, Jon (2023) Effects of using rigid tape with bandaging techniques on wrist joint motion during boxing shots in elite male athletes. Physical Therapy in Sport, 61. pp. 82-90. ISSN 1466-853X

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Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effects of bandaging techniques on wrist motion on impact during different shot types in elite male boxers. Design: Repeated-measures study. Setting: Field Experiment Participants: Two shot types, straight and bent arm, were assessed with 18 elite male boxers wearing either bandage only or bandage plus tape. Main Outcomes Measures: Wrist motions and time to peak wrist angles, on impact, were measured with an electromagnetic tracking system. Results: Wrist motion on impact occurred concurrently in flexion and ulnar deviation for both shot types. For both motions, significant (p < 0.001) effects for bandaging techniques (η2 = 0.580–0.729) and shot types (η2 = 0.165–0.280) were observed. For straight and bent arm shots, wrist motion on impact occurred within 50% and 40% respectively of total active wrist motion for bandage only compared to within 20% and 15% for bandage plus tape. Time to peak wrist angle on impact increased significantly (p < 0.001) for both shot types when adding tape to bandage. Conclusions: Adding tape provided an additional 25–30% reduction in wrist motion compared to bandage only, with a 1.2–1.4 increase in time to peak wrist angle, on impact for both shot types. This information could assist various individuals and organisations towards better hand-wrist protection.