Basic Taping and Wrapping Techniques Associated with Foot and Toe Injuries
While completing activities of daily living, as well as athletic activities, our feet and toes must react to multiple forces applied by the ground as well as the forces we apply on them. Both chronic and acute forces applied to our feet and toes and may eventually lead to injuries and overuse conditions. Within athletics, such forces may include running, cutting, twisting, jumping, decelerating, and movements that involve a change of speed. Common injuries that occur within the foot and toes include: contusions, sprains, strains, fractures, blisters, tendinitis, and other overuse injuries.
Arch Taping (Loop Arch)
The Purpose: The purpose of this taping technique is to create support along the longitudinal arch, as well as other areas of the forefoot. Common conditions that may require this type of taping technique include longitudinal, metatarsal, or transverse arch strains, midfoot sprains, and plantarfasciitis.
The Materials: Materials that may be used within this taping technique include Tough Skin adhesive spray, 1.5 inch white athletic tape, 1 inch white athletic tape, and 2 inch Power Flex tape.
The Preparation: In preparation for this taping technique, the athlete should be positioned on a table or bench, sitting upright, with their foot and ankle extended off of the table. Their knee and foot should be flexed and their ankle should be placed into complete dorsiflexion.
The Application:
Arch Taping (Loop Arch)
The Purpose: The purpose of this taping technique is to create support along the longitudinal arch, as well as other areas of the forefoot. Common conditions that may require this type of taping technique include longitudinal, metatarsal, or transverse arch strains, midfoot sprains, and plantarfasciitis.
The Materials: Materials that may be used within this taping technique include Tough Skin adhesive spray, 1.5 inch white athletic tape, 1 inch white athletic tape, and 2 inch Power Flex tape.
The Preparation: In preparation for this taping technique, the athlete should be positioned on a table or bench, sitting upright, with their foot and ankle extended off of the table. Their knee and foot should be flexed and their ankle should be placed into complete dorsiflexion.
The Application:
- Place the athletes foot into complete dorsiflexion
- Spray Tough Skin adherent spray to the plantar aspect of the foot (bottom of the foot), as well as the back of the heel.
- Using the 1.5 inch white athletic tape, apply an anchor strip over the base of the metatarsal heads (the ball of the foot). This strip should not cover the top of the foot, it should only cover the bottom half of the foot.
- Using the 1 inch white athletic tape, begin the first loop by applying the tape to the part of the anchor strip that sits just below the base of fifth metatarsal (fifth toe), on the lateral side. Then, proceed to pull the tape down towards the lateral side of the heel. Wrap the tape around the back of the heel and proceed to pull the tape up from the medial side of the heel to the base of the fifth toe. Finish the look strip, where it originally started, at the base of the fifth toe.
- Anchor the next loop strip on the medial side of the foot, on the base of the great toe. Then, proceed to pull the tape down towards the medial side of the heel with moderate tension. Wrap the tape around the back of the heel and pull back up towards the starting point. Finish this loop strip where it originally started, at the base of the great toe.
- Repeat the loop strips for the remaining three toes. The goal of the loop strips is to provide support to the longitudinal arch, by covering the entire plantar aspect of the foot.
- Once five loop strips have been applied to the plantar aspect of the foot, apply 1 inch white athletic tape anchor strips over the plantar aspect of the foot (similar to the original anchor strip on the ball of the foot). These strips provide support to the transverse arch. When applying these strips, create equal tension on both side of the tape and apply evenly to the foot with moderate tension. The anchor strips should cover all ends of the loop strips. The anchor strips should also overlap by half, moving distal to proximal on the plantar aspect of the foot.
- Once the anchor strips have reached the base of the heel, you can begin the next step.
- Using 2 inch Power Flex, start the tape on the lateral side of the foot, at the base of the metatarsal heads. While securely holding the tape down with one hand, use the other hand to pull the roll to the medial side of the foot. Pull the tape up and over the dorsal aspect of the foot (top of the foot), then return the tape back to its original spot. Do not rip the tape at this point, but continue to follow this circular pattern around the plantar and dorsal aspect of the foot, overlapping the tape by half its width, and moving distal to proximal.
- Once you have reached the base of the heel, you can rip and secure the end of the tape.
- Be sure to ask the athlete how the tape feels, making sure it is not too tight, or causing uncomfortable friction, which could lead to blisters.
Demonstration :
http://youtu.be/Vpuuyap7dBM
Great Toe Taping
The Purpose: The purpose of the great toe taping is to limit hypermobility of the MTP joint of the great toe (the metatarsophalangeal joint). Turf toe is often associated with flexible athletic shoes, which during high intensity activities, may force the toe into hyperextension, which can lead to a sprain of this joint. Soccer toe is another common injury associated with the great toe and is the opposite of turf toe. This type of injury occurs when the great toe is forces into hyperflexion, which may occur when striking a soccer ball. By taping the MTP joint of the great toe, it will create mild to moderate support of the toe by decreasing its range of motion, and preventing hypermobility.
The Materials: Materials that may be used within this taping technique include Tough Skin adherent spray, 2 inch Power Flex, 1 inch white athletic tape, and 1/2 inch Elastikon tape (optional).
The Preparation: In preparation for this taping technique, the athlete should be positioned on a table or bench, sitting supine, with their foot and ankle extended off of the table. Their knee and should be flexed and their ankle should be placed into complete dorsiflexion.
The Application:
http://youtu.be/Vpuuyap7dBM
Great Toe Taping
The Purpose: The purpose of the great toe taping is to limit hypermobility of the MTP joint of the great toe (the metatarsophalangeal joint). Turf toe is often associated with flexible athletic shoes, which during high intensity activities, may force the toe into hyperextension, which can lead to a sprain of this joint. Soccer toe is another common injury associated with the great toe and is the opposite of turf toe. This type of injury occurs when the great toe is forces into hyperflexion, which may occur when striking a soccer ball. By taping the MTP joint of the great toe, it will create mild to moderate support of the toe by decreasing its range of motion, and preventing hypermobility.
The Materials: Materials that may be used within this taping technique include Tough Skin adherent spray, 2 inch Power Flex, 1 inch white athletic tape, and 1/2 inch Elastikon tape (optional).
The Preparation: In preparation for this taping technique, the athlete should be positioned on a table or bench, sitting supine, with their foot and ankle extended off of the table. Their knee and should be flexed and their ankle should be placed into complete dorsiflexion.
The Application:
- Place the athletes foot into complete dorsiflexion
- Spray Tough Skin to the ball of the foot, as well as the medial aspect of the MTP joint of the great toe.
- Using the 2 inch Power Flex, apply a complete anchor around the midfoot. Mild roll tension should be applied to this step.
- Using the 1 inch white athletic tape, create a complete anchor directly to the skin around the mid to distal aspect of the great toe.
- To limit hyperextension (turf toe), apply a 1 inch strip of white athletic tape to the the great toe anchor. Place some tension on the tape as you pull down towards the midfoot anchor. Rip the tape.
- Apply 3-4 additional strips, overlapping by half the width of the tape, and moving from the plantar aspect of the great to the medial aspect of the great toe.
- To add additional support, anchor a 1 inch white athletic tape strip (or Elastikon Strip), on the medial side of the dorsal forefoot anchor. This strip should be angled up, towards the base of the great toe on the plantar side. Then, proceed to create a figure 8 strip by pulling the tape up towards the great toe. Wedge the tape between the great two and the second toe, then proceed to wrap the tape around the front side of the toe, crossing over the MTP joint. This strip should end on the plantar side of the foot.
- Apply 2 more of these figure 8 strips.
- To ensure that the ends of the tape do not come off, place two half anchor strips around the original forefoot anchor strip. One on the top and the bottom of the foot.
- Be sure to ask the athlete how the tape feels, making sure it is not too tight, or causing uncomfortable friction, which could lead to blisters.
Demonstration:
http://youtu.be/FyBVDl0u0Qs
http://youtu.be/FyBVDl0u0Qs