Taping is a simple and non-invasive treatment option for foot and ankle conditions resulting from overuse, misalignment, and inflammation.
If you have been to physical therapy for overuse injuries, chances are you’ve heard about physiotherapy tape.
Taping is a gentle method used in physical therapy to reduce pain, improve blood flow, provide support, and more. Physical therapists can apply the tape for you, or you can self-apply at home.
Self-application can be time-intensive since it requires skill and know-how. Thankfully, most tape applications last from three to five days and can withstand water from daily showers. The effort is worth it for several days of pain relief and support.
Learn more about taping and how it can help common foot and ankle conditions below!
What is taping?
Taping is a procedure used in physical therapy to protect muscles, joints, tendons, and bones from further strain, as well as a preventative measure from injury.
Taping is common for athletes to manage the extra strain and impact during sports. It’s also an excellent tool for people with injuries as it provides stability, reduces pain, and aids in normal movement.
Categories of tape
There are three types of tape: Kinesio, Mulligan, and McConnell.
Kinesio tape
Kinesio tape was created in the 1970s in Japan. One of its highlights is its elastic ability: Kinesio tape can stretch up to 140 percent of its normal length!
It also mimics the epidermis in thickness and weight. The benefits of Kinesio tape include reducing muscle fatigue, pain relief, enhancing healing by improving blood flow, and delaying onset muscle soreness.
Mulligan tape
Mulligan tape was created by Brian Mulligan in New Zealand. His concept, Mobilization with Movement (MWM), demonstrates that accessory mobilization (such as tape) is applied by a physiotherapist and is then stretched without pain to protect and support joints.
Mulligan tape is more rigid than Kinesio tape, which may make it uncomfortable for active patients. However, the rigidity of Mulligan tape is better for supporting joints than muscles or ligaments.
McConnell tape
McConnell, or Patellar, tape was developed by Australian physiotherapist Jenny McConnell. McConnell tape is best used for knee support. Patients with patellofemoral syndrome (PFPS), also known as runner’s knee, will find ease in their gait as pain is reduced and the load on the knee joint is lightened.
Taping for foot and ankle conditions
If you have a foot or ankle condition or injury, then taping may help you in your recovery. Some examples of conditions that benefit from taping are plantar fasciitis, ankle instability, bunions, turf toe, tibialis posterior dysfunction, and Achilles tendonitis, among many others.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fascia runs along the bottom of the foot and supports the arch. When plantar fascia is inflamed, it can cause stabbing pains known as plantar fasciitis.
The benefits of taping for plantar fasciitis include:
- Reducing the stretch and movement of plantar fascia
- Allowing fascia to heal while preventing further damage
- Pain relief
Ankle instability
Chronic ankle instability is characterized by ankle looseness while walking or during other activities. Ankle instability may be caused by repeated ankle sprains that have overstretched the muscles and ligaments around the ankle.
Physical therapy is often recommended for ankle instability, in which taping will be used to protect and support the joint. Taping the ankle will:
- Prevent the ankle from rolling, avoiding further damage to the joint and more instability
- Improve gait
- Reduce pain from rolling
Bunions
Bunions are protrusions of bone near the big toe caused by a loose metatarsal joint that misaligns the bones in the foot and toes. Bunions can be painful, inhibit certain activities, and make it difficult to wear some shoes.
Bunions can be taped to:
- Prevent further deformity to the foot
- Reduce pain by improving lymphatic drainage
- Improve gait
Turf toe
Athletes who move on hard surfaces, such as ice skaters, football players, or sprinters, may develop turf toe. Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint, or the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP). The sprain occurs when the heel is lifted, causing the toe to be hyperextended on flat ground.
Taping for turf toe will restrict the motion of the joint, which helps with:
- Protecting the foot and toe joint
- Improving stabilization and gait
- Pain relief
Tibialis posterior dysfunction
The tibialis posterior is a stabilizing tendon in the lower leg, and its main functions are to flex and invert the ankle. This tendon also helps to support the arch of the foot. It can become inflamed or tear during physical activities or a fall, resulting in difficulty in walking and pain. Without treatment, a dysfunctional tibialis posterior can contribute to arch collapse.
During physical therapy, taping the tibialis posterior will help with:
- Supporting the ankle and arch, preventing arch collapse
- Reducing swelling in the legs and feet
- Pain relief
Achilles tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is the result of overusing the Achilles tendon, which is located between the calf and heel. People with flat arches are more likely to experience Achilles tendonitis. The pain may be mild after a gentle run or other activities, or it can be more severe after intense exercise. Achilles tendonitis can also cause stiffness, especially in the morning.
Taping the Achilles tendon will relieve this condition by:
- Reducing inflammation
- Preventing further overuse and strain
- Relieving pain while walking
Taping can help you heal.
If you have a foot or ankle injury from intensive sports training or simply from your daily activities, consider using physiotherapy tape.
Taping can aid recovery by supporting the muscles, tendons, or ligaments around the injury, as well as improving blood flow to the area. Plus, taping will reduce pain and improve your gait, preventing further injury from poor alignment.
If you are interested in taping but you aren’t sure how to tape your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Frankel to heal your injuries with physiotherapy tape.
Visit Frankel Foot and Ankle for gait-related issues today.
Dr. Frankel founded Frankel Foot & Ankle to provide patients in the Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey tri-state area with the latest advances in diagnostic technology and treatment for sports medicine conditions, foot and ankle trauma response and innovative surgical and regenerative approaches. Contact Frankel Foot & Ankle today.
Sources: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Taping
