The purpose of taping the Achilles is
to prevent the Achilles from engaging in its full range of motion by
limiting the dorsiflexion of the foot. This is intended to limit the
stretching of the Achilles.
Traditional Achilles Tendon Taping
(as shown in the accompanying diagram and video at the bottom left)
involves either the creation of a fan of 3 tape strips on the table
which are then placed simulaneously on the foot attached at the
anchors on the top at the calf and on the bottom at the ball of the
foot, or the application of the 3 tape strips individually to the
foot at the anchors. Modified Achilles Tendon Taping (as shown in
the video at the bottom right) utilizes a Figure 8 technique. Both
are widely used and serve their purpose well.
Traditional Techniques -
Anchors (blue):
Place 1 or 2
strips of tape around the lower calf
muscle and the same around the foot at and immediately
behind the ball. These are used to
provide a starting and stopping point for other pieces of
tape.
Fan Application:
Put the foot at between
15° and 30° plantarflexion (toes extended downward).
Using the tape, measure
the distance from the top anchor to the bottom achor.
Tear 3 tape strips
(yellow, green, aqua) of equal length as measured.
Cross the 2 outside
strips (green, aqua) in an X shape over the center strip
(yellow) to form the fan.
Secure the fan to the
anchors (blue).
Secure the fan at the top
and bottom with additional anchors (red) .
Individual Strip Application :
Put the foot at
between 15° and 30° downward flex.
Apply the central tape
strip (yellow) and attach to the anchors (blue) while
maintaing the flex angle.
Repeat the process with 2
additional tape strips (green, aqua) crossing the center
strip (yellow) in a X pattern and attach each to the top
and bottom anchors (blue).
Secure the top and bottom
with additional anchor strips (red).
Modified Technique -
Figure Eight (no diagram):
Place 2 tape strips
around the lower calf to form an anchor.
Beginning at the rear
outter side of the anchor, apply tape downward and
across the Achilles to the rear of the inner arch just
in front of the heel.
Continue across the
bottom of the foot and across the top returning to the
inner arch.
Continue to tape across
the bottom of the foot crossing the previous wrap and
continue to the outside and up the outside of the heel
across the Achilles and across the opening tape
apllication ending at the inner rear of the anchor
strip.
Repeat with2 or 3
additional Figure 8 tape applications.
