How to Tape an Achilles Heel

The common result of a serious injury to your Achilles tendon is surgical repair and a period of immobilization in a hard cast. Once you've finished the period of immobilization and had your cast removed, it is common to start rehabilitation that consists of strengthening and stabilizing exercises. The rehabilitation process can often require taping the ankle to support the fragile tendon while completing these exercises. As Achilles injuries often take a long time to heal, continual taping before activity could mean the difference in preventing re-injury.

Things You'll Need

• Adhesive spray and under wrap
• 2-inch stretch adhesive tape
• 1.1/4-inch non-stretch zinc oxide tape

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply adhesive spray up to your mid calf. Wrap the under wrap under your sole and up to your mid calf.

• 2

  Apply two anchors (loops of tape around) of 2-inch wide stretch tape. One will be placed at the top of your under wrap near mid-calf and the other on the toe side of the heal of your foot wrapping underneath your sole.

• 3

  Lie down on your stomach but with your injured lower leg supported so that the foot can point downward to the floor

• 4

  Apply a length of 2-inch tape running down the back of your calf and under your heal from the calf anchor down to the foot anchor.

• 5

  Apply a "stirrup," which is a second length of 2-inch stretch tape running from the outside top of the calf anchor down and across to the inside of the foot anchor passing the tape under the sole to the outside of the foot anchor and back up crossing over the calf to attach at the upper inside calf anchor.

• 6

  Apply lengths of 1 1/4-inch zinc oxide tape over both sets of anchors to secure the loose ends of the vertically running 2-inch stretch tape. Use enough to secure the downward running strips as the zinc oxide tape does not expand like the stretch tape and should not be taped all the way around your calf.