How To Tape Up A Jammed Thumb

Posted April 24, 2020

Jamming your thumb is the worst and it can become an even bigger pain if not treated or taped correctly.

What's even more difficult is knowing you've got to execute front and back handsprings over and over again to perfection.

While in some sports you can maybe get away with not being able to catch to the best of your ability, in cheer that is definitely not the case. When someone is being tossed 15 feet in the air, there is no room for error when catching them. That means it's absolutely vital that our thumbs are strong and provide stability during any and all stunts.

While a jammed thumb can be extremely painful, it's something that can be addressed with a good tape job and some perseverance. You may still experience some pain, considering that a jammed thumb is a sprain of the ligaments in your hand and wrist, but if taped well, the thumb will be supported well enough to bear close to the same amount of weight it does on a normal basis.

Taping With a Partner

If you're with a teammate, a friend, a parent, or coach, taping your thumb can be quite easy. In the following video, you can see just how to execute a solid tape job by keeping your hand still and letting your partner do the work.

What you'll need: Spray adherent (optional but recommended); pre-wrap (optional but recommended); 1.5 inch athletic tape.

Taping By Yourself

Sometimes you may not have anyone around to help you get strapped, so you'll have to just do it on your own! Don't worry, it's not as daunting a task as it may seem.

What you'll need: 1" or 1.5" athletic stretch tape; not-stretch athletic tape (any size)

A jammed thumb is a real pain, but as long as you take good care of it you'll return to competition pain-free. Remember to ice, take any necessary anti-inflammatories, and tape before training or competitions to help the recovery process.

If you feel that your thumb is not going to be able to handle the full weight-bearing load that cheer requires, take some time off and don't put yourself or your teammates at risk!