Taping

The application flexible (Kinesiology) tape dependant upon the stage of injury.  

In the early stages of an injury, tape may be required to support a joint and decrease its range of movement to prevent further damage.   Rigid tape may be appropriate here.  After the first few days the focus is on inhibiting those muscles that have gone into spasm around a joint to help allow movement within pain free limits, or to improve lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling.  

As healing progresses and you start to regain more movement in a joint, it may help if the healing tissues are offloaded whilst their range of movement is increased.  

Finally once an injury is in the final stages of recovery muscle facilitation may be required to help get them working again and to help improve co-ordination.  Again, K Tape is used for this.

Alternatively, it may be more appropriate to apply rigid / SPRT  tape to help provide symptomatic pain relief.  This works by using fascial /connective tissue tension to apply compressive forces / offload support to applicable structures.