You step on the ice for your team’s first faceoff, and everything is cool. The game begins, and you’re flying. You pass and you score. The adrenaline is pumping, and you know that this is the moment. The puck is rolling toward the net, and you can’t stop it. Suddenly, it pops out of the back of the net. You try to grab it, but it evades your grasp and rolls away. The goalie stops it, and the crowd goes wild.
The game ends, and you feel your heart pounding in your chest. You look down at your wrist, and it’s bleeding slightly. You didn’t feel a thing! But now the adrenaline has subsided, and the pain is setting in. You wrap up your wrist and notice that it’s become swollen. You wonder what happened, and you remember the puck.
Hockey is a beautiful game, but it can also be brutal. You’ve played on the same team for years, and now you’re facing off against a new opponent. Suddenly, you’re in pain, and it’s all because of a hockey puck. You wish there was someone to help, but you’re not sure what to do. You’re embarrassed that the puck hurt you, but you’re feeling pretty sure that it did. You wonder if it’s broken, and you begin to feel anxious. You’re not sure what’ll happen if you don’t take care of it properly. You need to know!
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Taping Is The Key
Hockey is a fast-paced sport, and it requires quick reflexes. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to play. Every position on the ice is hard to master, and even the most experienced players have a hard time keeping their cool on the rink. If you want to remain on the ice for the full game, you need to do everything you can to prevent injuries. That means using protective gear, such as wrist tape.
There isn’t just one kind of wrist tape. Different brands offer different features, and most importantly, different prices. You need to choose something that’s comfortable and fits properly. You don’t want to be rolling your wrist around during the game, because that’ll hurt like hell. Choose a thick layer that’ll stay in place during activities, and remove it when you go to sleep. If possible, choose a color that’ll match your outfit so it doesn’t pop out in the wrong place.
Taping Before Play
Before every practice and game, you need to tape your wrist. It’s important that you do this, even if your wrist isn’t injured. It’ll prevent it from getting injured, and it’ll make doing activities on the ice easier. Begin by wrapping your wrist with gauze, or tape that’s been stretched over several pieces of plywood to form a stable surface. You don’t need to use every bit of tape available, because stretches of skin on your wrist are normal and don’t cause any problems. However, if you have a spot where the skin is very thin, or you wear a bracelet on your wrist, you may need to cover it with tape as well.
Once you have your wrist taped, you need to make sure that it stays put during activities. You do this by putting tape around it in various patterns. One pattern that’s become very popular is the X pattern. This stands for crossed legs, and it’s done by crossing your index fingers and thumbs behind your back. Crossed fingers and thumbs not only help keep your wrist stable, but they also provide a better grip on the puck should you catch it. If you have a spot on your wrist that needs extra attention, you can use a dry erase marker to draw an X pattern on the tape. This way, you won’t have to guess where to put the extra tape.
Once you’ve finished drawing the pattern, leave a small piece of tape with a bit of room in between your wrist and the next time you tape it. This will make it easier to remove the tape without causing discomfort. When you remove the tape, the wrist will naturally relax, and it’ll be easier for you to put on your gloves. You don’t want to wear gloves while playing, because it’ll slow down your hand movements, and it may become difficult to control the puck. Once you take off your gloves, it’ll be easier for the trainer to assess your wrist’s condition. This way, you won’t have to worry about discomfort, and you’ll be able to focus purely on playing the game. The last thing you want is to hold back because of pain. Believe it or not, your wrist is one of the most vital parts of your hockey player’s body. It controls the velocity at which your arm swings, and it protects your most vital organs. Because of this, it’s important that you take good care of it.
If you’re not sure how to tape a wrist for hockey, here are a few tips from experts:
Start At The Top
When taping your wrist for hockey, start at the top. This means that you’ll begin by wrapping your arm in a tight sleeve. While this may feel restricting at first, it’ll prevent discomfort from pinching nerves. Once you’ve wrapped your arm, continue to tape all the way down. You don’t need to be overly meticulous about this, because if you are, you may end up injuring yourself in the process. As you go down, continue to make small, gradual loops. This will help prevent any tension from building up, and it’ll make taping easier. If you have someone helping you tape your wrist, have them do it as steadily as possible. Should they get a bit impatient, you may end up with some wrinkles. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and after all, haste makes waste.
Use More Than One
While two pieces of tape may be sufficient for some people, others may need more. If you have a spot that requires more than one layer of tape, it may mean that there’s a problem with your wrist. This may be due to a bone spur, or it may even be an indication of arthritis. If you’re not sure what’s causing your wrist pain, you may need to see a doctor. Two layers of tape may not be enough for the type of activities you’re involved in, so it’s better to be safe than sorry and be on the lookout for any unusual wear and tear. More than two layers may be necessary if the tape begins to peel away at the edges. If your wrist is wearing out, it may be time to seek medical help. Two layers of tape may not be enough to protect your wrist during strenuous activities, so make sure you have more than one layer on your wrist before heading into the ice rink. It’s also a good idea to get a different color of tape each time you tape up your wrist. If you change the color of the tape you’re using, it’ll make determining which color is on your wrist at any given time a bit simpler. This can help prevent confusion, as well as minimize the risk of an injury by making the tape apparent. One more thing, if you’re using transparent tape for your wrist, it’ll be much easier for the people around you to tell if you’ve actually taped your wrist or not. This is because the tape will show through your skin, making it appear as if your arm is already fully wrapped. It’ll also make it easier for medical professionals to assess your wrist’s condition should you need assistance. If you’re not sure what materials to use for your wrist tape, here are a few suggestions: