How to Tape Ankles

Runners, hikers, backpackers and team sports players all share a proclivity to ankle injuries. Sprains, hairline fractures and contusions are real possibilities when out adventuring or participating in these activities. Should injury occur, it is advisable to isolate the injury by wrapping the ankle to give support until proper medical attention is given. Wrapping an ankle in the field does not need to be complicated, but you must take care to ensure there is proper blood circulation to the foot and that mobility to the ankle gets restricted.

Things You'll Need

  • Roll of self-adhesive 2-inch medical tape
  • Four 2-inch-by-2-inch gauze pads
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the injured foot on a backpack or the leg of another person to elevate it. Keep the toes pointing up. Remove any boots and socks, taking care not to move the ankle while doing so.

    • 2

      Place one 2-inch-by-2-inch gauze pad on each side of the ankle and hold them in place with one hand. With the other, wrap one full wrap of the self-adhesive medical tape around the two gauze pads.

    • 3

      Wrap around the foot two to three full wraps, then crisscross the tape, moving up the ankle, leaving the heal exposed. Take care to not get the wrap too tight. Ask the injured party if the wrap feels excessively tight. You're shooting for snug or a little tighter.

    • 4

      Continue the wrap up above the ankle, then back down across the original wraps. Tuck the end of the tape into a wrap, letting the self-adhesive quality take hold and prevent the wrap from coming undone.

    • 5

      Pinch the big toe of the injured party five minutes after the wrap and look to see that when pinched on the nail, it goes white on the pinch and then returns to a reddish color within a few seconds. This indicates there is adequate circulation. Unwrap and rewrap looser if the white remains for more than a few (15) seconds.