How to Strap an Achilles Tendon

After an injury to your Achilles tendon, you must properly immobilize the tendon to ensure that it receives proper rest and is not re-aggravated. To do this, you strap the tendon with medical tape in the proper healing position. Here are the steps to properly wrap your Achilles tendon after an injury.

Things You'll Need

• Shaver
• Underwrap
• 5 cm stretch adhesive tape
• 3.5 cm non-stretch zinc oxide tape

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Instructions

• 1

  Prepare the leg for wrapping. Shave the leg from the ankle to the kneecap in order for the wrapping to properly hold. If you do not want to shave, use an underwrap and an adhesive spray.

• 2

  Set the "anchor" tapings. These are used to anchor the main body of the wrap. Start with the 5 cm stretch tape and wrap it once around the upper calf about 3 inches below the kneecap. Apply another wrap of 5 cm stretch tape below this initial wrap so that 2/3 of the previous wrap shows. Use the 3.5 cm non-stretch tape to wrap once around the middle of the foot.

• 3

  Apply a strip of tape to the back of the calf. Using the 5 cm stretch tape, start at the underside of the foot on the anchor taping and draw the tape up the calf to the upper-calf anchor taping. Press the ends firmly in place, but do not press down on the tape so that it adheres to the area of the injured tendon.

• 4

  Stabilize the heel. Using the 5 cm stretch tape, firmly apply the tape to the upper-calf anchor taping and draw it down and across the calf towards the ankle. At the ankle, pull the tape under the heel and back up the other side. Continue to pull the tape back up and across the calf to the anchor taping. If done correctly, this single piece of tape will have crossed near the center of the calf.

• 5

  Apply the final wraps. Three final wraps are made using the 3.5 cm tape to hold the entire strap in place. Tape once around the initial anchor taping on the upper calf to hold the ends of the 5 cm tape down. Do the same for the anchor taping on the foot. Finally, wrap the 3.5 cm tape once around the injured tendon above the ankle. This taping should not cause the injured tendon pain, but it should be firm enough to hold it in place.