How to Tie an Ankle Brace for a Sprained Ankle

A sprained ankle is the result of damaging the ankle ligaments in the form of a full or partial tear, or rip. While the healing process is faster than that involved with the breakage of the ankle bones, if you don’t treat your sprain carefully you could end up setting the healing back or even causing yourself a lot of pain. Fortunately, you can easily tie your own ankle brace, which will help support the ankle correctly during the healing process.

Things You'll Need

• Cellulose foam
• Scissors
• Elastic bandage
• Medical tape

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Instructions

• 1

  Cut out a piece of cellulose foam into the shape of a horseshoe using scissors. The middle of the horseshoe should fit your ankle joint, while the arms of the horseshoe extend up to your mid calf.

• 2

  Wrap the elastic bandage around your foot, just below your toes, and secure the tail of the bandage in place by making two secure wraps over it. Continue to wrap around your foot until the bandage meets your leg on the top of your foot.

• 3

  Hold the horseshoe against the outer side of your foot, with your ankle joint in the opening of the shape. The arms of the horseshoe should be extending upward along your leg.

• 4

  Pull the bandage around the back of your ankle and across the foam to hold it in place. Bring the bandage around your ankle once more to make a secure hold on the foam.

• 5

  Pass the bandage down around the heel of your foot and back up over the top of your foot. When the bandage comes down again it should completely cover your ankle joint and heel.

• 6

  Bring the bandage up and around your ankle to cover the arms of the horseshoe. Work up your leg until you use up the entire bandage.

• 7

  Wrap a piece of medical tape around the top of the bandage where the wrap ends. Pass another piece of tape vertically along the inside and outside of the leg to secure the heel portion of the wrap.