Ankle Taping
If you have weak ankles or have had a
recent ankle injury you may wish to have your ankles taped or wear a
brace. Click here to access
additional information on our site about sprains and their
treatment.
There are numerous methods of taping
taught to and by trainers, many of which are readily available in
online videos,
including that used by Texas A&M University as shown in the two
part video presentation
at the bottom of this page. If you choose to tape your ankles, you
may want to utilize the following method which is similar to the A&M
demonstration.
The ankle taping diagrammed below
includes an optional basket weave involing the stipup and horsehoe
portions. It also involves optional double heel locks as well as a
figure eight wrap prior to a full closure with tape strips.
This particular procedure provides
primary support to the
outside of the ankle, which is the most often sprained area, an
ankle inversion. For a sprain to the inside of the ankle, an ankle
eversion, perform the same operations as shown, but reverse the
inside and outside of the leg.
Taping Preparation
Shave the ankle and
lower leg. Clean the area and apply no lotion, body oil or similar
lubricant. Spray the area with a quick drying skin adhesive or Tuff
Skin. These sprays may contain Isopropyl Alcohol, Isobutane, Rosin,
and/or Benzoin and should not be used if you are allergic to any of
these ingredients. If available you may place heal and lace pads on
the front of the ankle and the Achilles tendon. Wrap the entire
ankle with pre-wrap if you wish.
Anchors (red):
Stirups (yellow):
-
This method of taping has
the stirups and the horseshoes in a basketweave, which
is optional for added strength. All of the stirups may
be first appllied followed by the Horseshoes.
-
Start the strips of tape
on the inside of the leg on the anchors. Pull the
stirups under the heal and stop them on the outside of
the lower leg on the anchors.
-
These are among the
most important tape strips in this procedure and must
be pulled upward on the outside of the leg quite tight.
Horseshoes (blue) :
-
Start on either the inside or outside of the
ankle, make one revolution of the lower leg with
the tape.
-
These may be fully closed
with up to 2" overlap or or left open.
Double Heel Locks (turquoise):
-
Start on the
inside of the ankle on an angle towards the bottom of the
heel. (#1)
-
Bring the tape up on the outside of
the heel towards the rear of the heel. (#2)
-
Allow the tape to then
come back to the front of the ankle on the inside of the
joint try to have the tape travel over the inside "ankle
bone".(#3)
-
Bring the
tape back towards the rear of the ankle on the outside of
the joint try to have the tape travel over the outside
"ankle bone". (#4)
-
Pull the tape down the
inside of the heal towards the bottom of the foot. (#5)
-
Finish this strip by bringing the tape from the
bottom of the foot up the outside of the ankle to your
starting point. (#6)
-
Repeat the heel
lock procedure (#7 through #12) and thereby create two
double heel locks.
Figure Eight (green):
-
Proceed across the top of
the foot and downward on the inside to the bottom of the
foot and continue toward the outside. (#13)
-
Contiunue upward on the
outside of the foot to the top. (#14).
-
Wrap around the top of
the foot and across the inside of the ankle backward
toward the Achilles. (#15)
-
Continue around the ankle
toward the outside top of the foot. (#16)
-
Wrap downward across the
top and inside of the foot to the bottom and continue to
the outside. (#17)
-
Continue up the outside
of the foot across the top and finish on the inside at
or near the anklebone protrusion. (#18)
Closing Strips (purple):
-
Closing strips
are used to secure the tape job and ensure that there are no
holes. If there are any holes in your tape job cover them
with the closing strips to the best of your ability.
-
Start your closing strips at
the top of
the ankle taping to prevent the placement of a sock over the
tape from pulling the tape up.
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