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. If you choose to tape your ankles you may want to follow this procedure utilized by athletic trainers. This particular procedure provides support to the outside of the ankle, which is the most often sprained area.

Step One:

  • Shave the hair off your ankle and lower leg
  • Clean the area (no lotion)

Step Two:
Spray the area with a quick dry adhesive, or tuff skin. This spray may contain Isopropyl Alcohol, Isobutane, Rosin, and Benzoin and should not be used if allergic to any of these ingredients.

Step Three:

  • If available place heal and lace pads on the front of the ankle and the Achilles tendon
  • Wrap the entire ankle with pre - wrap
Step Four:
Anchors:

Place the strips of tape around the lower leg. These are used to provide a starting and stopping point for other pieces of tape. See Diagram 1 (Anchors are Red in Color)

 

 
Step Five:
Stirrups:

Start the strips of tape on the inside portion of the leg on the anchors. Pull the stirrups of tape under the heal and stop them on the outside of the lower leg on the anchors. These are some of the most important strips of tape in this procedure so do not be afraid to pull them tight. See Diagram 2 (Stirrups are Yellow in Color)

 
Step Six:
Horizontals (Horseshoes):

Start on either the inside or outside of the ankle, make one complete revolution of the lower leg with the tape. Stop the tape 2 inches past where you started it. See Diagram 3 (Horizontals are Blue in color)

 

 
Step Seven:
Heel Locks:
  • Start on the inside of the ankle on an angle towards the bottom of the heel. (See diagram 4 #1)
  • Bring the tape up on the outside of the heel towards the rear of the heel (See Diagram 5 #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". (See Diagram 4 #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". (See Diagram 5 #4)
  • Pull the tape down the inside of the heal towards the bottom of the foot (See Diagram 4 #5)
  • Finish this strip by bringing the tape form the bottom of the foot up the outside of the ankle to wear you started with number 1 (See Diagram Number 6)
  • Repeat the heel lock 1 more time. (Heel locks are Light Blue in color)
  • Create 2 heel locks in the same manner as previously described, however, reverse the directions so as to begin from the outside of the foot.
  • You will finish with 2 inside and 2 outside heel locks. 
Step Eight:
Closing Strips:

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. You can start your closing strips at either the top or the bottom of the ankle. (See Diagram 6, Closing strips in Purple)

 

    For a sprain to the inside of the ankle perform the same operations as above, but  reverse the inside and outside of the leg as shown in the diagrams.