Kinesiotape of the Achilles tendon

Kinesotapes are special tape bandages designed to improve blood and lymph drainage by constantly massaging the part of the body to which they are applied. They thus help with chronic and acute pain caused, for example, by inflammation of the Achilles tendon, previous injuries, incorrect weight bearing or other problems. The scientific benefit of kinesio tapes has not been proven, but they are used in supportive therapy against pain in the Achilles tendon.

The tapes have different colours, which stand for different properties (e.g. calming). However, the kinesio-tape does not give the Achilles tendon any stability, so that the resilience of the tendon is not increased. It is therefore useless for athletes who want to stabilize their ankle for sports.

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Cause of Achilles tendonitis

Depending on the manufacturer, there are different instructions for applying a kinesiotape bandage. Basically the techniques are very similar. For a simple kinesio bandage of the Achilles tendon you need two long and two short strips of tape.

The bandage is applied in prone position. The foot is positioned and tensed. The first long strip of tape is now divided lengthwise into two halves.

The lower third of the strip remains undivided as a base. This is now applied over the heel and heel bone without tension. This tape base is now modelled and smoothed out with the hands after application.

The frictional heat improves the hold. Then the outer half of the tape is pulled over the outside of the calf and then runs out inwards below the hollow of the knee. Using the same principle, apply the inner half of the tape to the inner side of the calf and let the end run over the outer end so that both halves of the plaster meet here again.

Now you need the second long strip of tape. This strip is spread over the calf starting at the heel and ends without pulling, also below the hollow of the knee. Now only the two short strips are missing.

One of them is stuck directly onto the painful area with maximum traction and then runs without pressure towards the inside of the ankle. The second short strip of plaster is applied to the sole of the foot with traction and spread out towards the top, so that the tape bandage of the calf is additionally stabilized. The application of such a bandage can also be done alone with a little practice. Otherwise you should get help from someone, e.g. a physiotherapist.

Can tape relieve the pain?

If you stick tape on a painful part of the body, you make sure that this part is stabilized. This is especially useful for inflammation of individual tendons to relieve the tendon. The fact that the skin to which the tape is attached is increasingly pushed over the moving muscle areas during movements also improves the blood circulation in these areas.

On the one hand, this helps to bring nutrients, which are transported by the blood, to the inflamed area and, on the other hand, to remove waste products, which accumulate at the inflamed area and cause pain, faster. In this respect, the question of whether a tape can relieve pain, when used correctly, can usually be answered with yes. Please inform yourself additionally:

Therapy of an Achilles tendonitis