Achilles Tendon Taping Techniques

The Achilles tendon is a large tendon that runs along the back of the calf and it is prone to injury and inflammation. Achilles problems are often caused by athletes hyper-extending the tendon by flexing too far forward at the ankle joint. Taping the Achilles tendon to reduce range of motion will provide some protection.

  1. Basic Ankle Taping

    • Basic ankle taping provides support to the ankle joint as a whole, giving some extra support to the Achilles tendon. Begin by tearing off several strips of tape and placing them around the back of the Achilles tendon, fanning out from a spot 1 inch or so above the heel. Next place a couple of long strips of tape parallel to the Achilles tendon on either side, looping under the heel for each strip. These strips will secure the original strips you put on, and provide some additional support. Once these are in place, begin a continuous strip of tape, starting above the ankle, which wraps around the shin several times. Proceed down the ankle, and then cross over and under the foot. Have the tape go back and forth from the ankle to the foot in a figure eight pattern to build support, then loop it around the foot a few times and rip it off to finish the tape job. You can use a prewrap to keep tape from sticking directly to skin and hair if you wish.

    Achilles Taping

    • Taping a leg specifically for Achilles support is done by creating a structure behind the tendon that limits the angle that the shin can bend forward relative to the foot. Begin by placing several strips of tape around the calf muscle. Next place several strips of tape around the middle of the foot. With these anchors in place, put a single strip of tape right over the Achilles tendon, starting from the bottom of the foot, and then ending on the back of the calf muscle. The ends of the strip should stick to the tape that you already put on. Proceed by placing a few more strips along the back of the Achilles at slightly different angles. Make sure the strips are taught, or you won't properly restrict range of motion. With these supports in place, put a few more strips around the calf and foot to secure the long strips along the back of the tendon. When you are done you should have a taught band of strips running along the tendon that keep the knee from bending too far forward while walking.

    Ace Bandages

    • If you want to further secure the tape job and apply a bit of pressure to the joint, you can use an elastic Ace Bandage. To use an Ace Bandage, wrap the bandage in a continuous loop around the ankle and foot, then use the metal clips that come with the bandage o secure it in place. Clips can sometimes fall off during activity, so you might wish to cover it up with a sock. Ace Bandages are too flexible to provide great support for an Achilles tendon on their own, although ankle braces may be helpful.