Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries are common following a fall onto the shoulder or direct impact, particularly in contact and overhead sports. The injury can range from a mild ligament sprain to more significant joint separation, often resulting in localised pain on the top of the shoulder, swelling, and discomfort with lifting the arm or lying on the affected side. Rigid taping of the AC joint is commonly used to provide external support, reduce stress on the injured ligaments, assist with pain relief, and improve confidence during movement or return to activity.
Materials Required
- Rigid sports tape (3.8 cm width is common).
- Hypoallergenic underwrap tape (optional, for sensitive skin).
- Scissors.
- Adhesive spray (optional, for better adhesion).
Demonstration
Instructions
Preparation:
- Clean the skin thoroughly to remove oils, sweat, or lotions.
- Shave excess hair if required to improve tape adhesion.
- Position the patient in an upright seated posture with the hand resting on the hip.
- Apply hypoallergenic underwrap over the front of the chest, across the back of the chest, and around the upper arm (biceps).
Anchor Tapes:
- Apply the first anchor strip over the underwrap on the front of the chest.
- Apply a second anchor strip around the upper arm, just below the deltoid.
- Ensure the tape is firm but does not restrict circulation.
- Encourage the patient to gently flex their biceps during application to reduce the risk of circulation being restricted.
- Optional: Apply a third anchor strip over the back of the chest, over the underwrap.
Support Strips:
- Attach the rigid tape to the front of the chest anchor and pull it across the shoulder toward the back of the chest anchor to provide support.
- Repeat this support strip 2–3 times, slightly overlapping each strip.
- Ask the patient to gently shrug the shoulder upwards.
- Attach rigid tape to the upper arm anchor and pull the tape upward with firm tension, applying it over the top of the AC joint.
- Repeat this upward support strip 2–3 times, overlapping slightly to build support.
- Apply an additional strip from the front of the chest to the back of the chest if extra support is needed.
Reinforce the Anchors:
- Secure the ends of all support strips by covering them with additional anchor tape around the upper arm and across the chest.
Check and Adjust:
- Ensure the tape feels supportive without excessively restricting shoulder movement.
- Ask the patient to gently move the shoulder and report comfort levels.
- Check circulation by monitoring for tingling, numbness, or colour changes in the arm or hand. Remove and reapply the tape if necessary.