Athletic Taping and Bandaging: Arch Tape Support

By: Amanda Blau

Date: Tuesday March 25, 2014
re Tape:
1! "hec# the acti$e mo$ements o% the an#le& dorsi 'e(ion, plantar 'e(ion,
toe 'e(ion, lateral %our toe 'e(ion, toe e(tension, and lateral %our toe
e(tension)
2! "hec# passi$e dorsi 'e(ion and great toe e(tension comparing
*ilaterally %or pain)
+! alpate the medial tu*ercle o% the calcaneous and along the
longitudinal arch %or tenderness)
4! ,ule out any circulatory pro*lems, allergies to adhesi$es, and o*ser$e
%or any s#in a*rasions or lesions)
Tools:
1- .inc o(ide tape
Tu/ S#in
atient osition:
1! The patient should *e in a seated position on a ta*le 0ith their leg %ully
e(tended and their %oot o$er the edge)
2! The toes and an#le should *e placed in rela(ed position)
,ationale:
The plantar %ascia is a thic# connecti$e tissue, 0hich supports the arch on
the plantar sur%ace o% the %oot) 1t originates on the calcaneal tu*erosity and
inserts onto the metatarsal *ones o% the %oot) The plantar %ascia contri*utes
to the support o% the arch 0here it undergoes tension 0hen the %oot *ears
0eight)
lantar %asciitis is the straining o% the ligament that supports arch o% the
%oot) This in2ury may *e caused *y e(cessi$e pronation, a high arch or 'at
%eet, or a tight Achilles tendon or cal% muscles) lantar %asciitis results in pain
on the underside o% the %oot characteri.ed *y in'ammation and 3*rosis o%
the connecti$e tissue) The purpose o% this taping techni4ue is to attempt to
ta#e load o/ o% the plantar %ascia tissue, and pro$ide e(tra support to the
structure to allo0 it time to heal)
Steps:
1! Spray the %oot 0ith Tu/ S#in to remo$e any e(cess perspiration) This
0ill allo0 the tape to adhere more 3rmly to the s#in)
2! lace an anchor o% 1- .inc o(ide tape around the
%ore%oot 0here the plantar %ascia muscle inserts
into the heads o% the metatarsals)
+! 5rap another anchor o% 1- .inc o(ide tape
around the heel)
4! 6nsuring that the %oot is #ept in a rela(ed
position, place + pieces o% tape %rom the
anchor o% the %ore%oot to the anchor around
the heel in a %anned position)
5! lace one addition piece in a $ertical
position %rom the *ase o% the 1
st
metatarsal to
the anchor at the heel to allo0 %or e(tra support at the arch o% the %oot)
7! lace another anchor o$ertop the tape applied to the %ore%oot %or e(tra
support)
8! lace another anchor o$ertop the tape applied to the heel %or e(tra
support)
9! Applt a heel loc#: the tape runs %rom the *ase o%
the 1
st
metatarsal, along the arch o% the %oot,
around the heel, and *ac# to the *ase o% the 1
st
metatarsal) This 0ill pro$ide e(tra support to
the medial arch o% the %oot, 0hich tends to
o$erpronate 0ith plantar %asciitis)
:! Add one additional anchor around the %ore%oot to add additional
sta*ility and adherence to the tape 2o*)
ost Tape:
1! ;a$e the patient 0al# on their %eet to test the tape 2o*)
2! ,e<chec# circulation)