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Effects of Finger and Wrist Taping on Grip Strength

Methodist Sports Medicine Center, Department of Research and Education, Indianapolis, Indiana

Keith S. Stube, MD

Methodist Sports Medicine Center, Department of Research and Education, Indianapolis, Indiana

K. Donald Shelbourne, MD

Methodist Sports Medicine Center, Department of Research and Education, Indianapolis, Indiana

Taping of the fingers and wrists by professional and collegiate football players has become increasingly prevalent because many players believe taping pro vides them with increased grip strength. This study was conducted to determine whether taping of the fingers or wrists or both enhances grip strengths in football players. Twenty-five players who self-tape in game situations volunteered for the study. Grip strengths in both taped and untaped conditions (trials) were measured with a hand-held grip dynamometer. Each athlete completed five measurement trials. No statistically significant difference was found between the untaped dominant hand and the dominant hand with the fingers-only taped. There was no significant difference between the untaped nondominant hand and the nondominant hand with the wrist-only taped. The untaped dominant hand was significantly stronger than the taped dominant hand, with mean grip strengths of 142.7 versus 137.8 pounds. The results of these clinical measurements of grip strength showed that, contrary to the perceptions of professional and major college football players, taping of the fingers or wrists or both the fingers and wrists does not improve grip strength.

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