EFFECTS OF FINGER AND WRIST TAPING ON GRIP STRENGTH

Taping of the fingers and wrists by professional and collegiate footba ll players has become increasingly prevalent because many players beli eve taping provides 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 ha nd-held grip dynamometer. Each athlete completed five measurement tria ls. No statistically significant difference was found between the unta ped dominant hand and the dominant hand with the fingers-only taped. T here was no significant difference between the untaped nondominant han d and the nondominant hand with the wrist-only taped. The untaped domi nant hand was significantly stronger than the taped dominant hand, wit h mean grip strengths of 142.7 versus 137.8 pounds. The results of the se clinical measurements of grip strength showed that, contrary to the perceptions of professional and major college football players, tapin g of the fingers or wrists or both the fingers and wrists does not imp rove grip strength.