Which of the following is NOT a purpose of taping techniques?

Taping techniques in sports medicine serve several key purposes, primarily aimed at providing support, stability, and protection to injured or at-risk body parts. One of the main objectives is to secure pads, bandages, and protective devices to ensure they stay in place during activity. This helps prevent further injury and provides added support to the affected area.

Another important function of taping is to decrease joint range of motion when necessary. This is particularly useful in cases where stabilization is required to protect an injured joint or to prevent excessive movement that could exacerbate an injury. Additionally, taping can shorten the muscle's angle of pull, which can help optimize biomechanics and reduce the risk of strain or further trauma.

However, improving muscle flexibility is not an intended purpose of taping techniques. While properly applied tape can help in maintaining the current state of flexibility, it does not inherently increase muscle flexibility. Taping is generally more focused on providing structural support rather than enhancing how a muscle elongates or contracts. Therefore, this is why the statement regarding improving muscle flexibility is considered the correct answer in this context.