Symptoms and areas of application
Symptoms that indicate that the ankle joint is impaired and it may make sense to tap the ankle joint are mainly pain. In most cases, the symptoms are preceded by a sports accident, e.g. while playing soccer or jogging. The pain depends on movement and is localized on the inside or outside of the ankle, depending on how the accident occurred.
This is often accompanied by restrictions in walking and running, so that the ankle joint should be taped. Swelling also indicates damage to the ankle joint. If these and the other symptoms are very pronounced, a visit to a doctor should be made before self-treatment to confirm the diagnosis. Prophylactically taping the ankle joint is useful if an instability in the ankle joint has often been noticed in the past, possibly with accompanying injuries. The ankle can also be taped to protect it from unusual or heavy loads.
Diagnosis
Before taping an ankle joint, a medical examination should always be performed in case of more severe symptoms. The aim is to make an exact diagnosis and to be able to distinguish between torn and stretched ligaments, for example. In some cases, imprecise taping can worsen the course of the problem and further treatment may be necessary. If the ankle joint is to be taped as part of prophylaxis, these examinations are not necessary, but you should read the instructions beforehand.
Kinesio Tape and Leukotape
There are many elastic or inelastic plasters and tapes available on the market today, two of which are often used to tape an ankle joint. Kinesio Tape is a tape used to treat or prevent sports injuries. It originated in the 1970s and was developed by a Japanese chiropractor.
Characteristic for the Kinesio Tape is its special elasticity and the structure which is modeled on the skin. This elasticity supports the ligamentous apparatus in the ankle joint without restricting freedom of movement. At the same time, the elastic Kinesio Tape causes a light massage of the affected areas with every movement, which promotes blood circulation.
Further features of the Kinesio Tape are its air and water permeability, which allows the skin to breathe. The Kinesio Tape unfolds its effect by relieving the muscles and ligaments, as the elastic tension on the ankle joint transfers forces through the skin.As part of the treatment of sports injuries, a Kinesio Tape can reduce inflammatory reactions and swelling of the ankle joint. In addition to the finished rolls in various widths, ready-made pre-cut kinesio tapes are often offered, which are adapted to the ankle joint.
Taping the ankle joint with kinesio tape should be placed in experienced hands, as they have a better knowledge of the anatomy and the course of ligaments at the ankle joint and one can possibly cause counterproductive effects if applied incorrectly. Leukotape is a tape from another manufacturer and is available in different versions. As Leukotape K (for Kinesio) it has similar properties as the Kinesio Tape described above.
In addition, variants such as Leukotape P or Claassic are offered, which in contrast are not elastic and thus have more mechanical stability than functional properties. Non-elastic Leukotape is applied according to the course of tapes, and can thus absorb forces from them and conduct them through the skin. In addition, additionally attached strips of Leukotape provide a deliberate, slight restriction of movement to protect against unwanted excessive movement.
This supports and relieves ligaments and joints. The person can also better perceive unwanted movements and thus counteract them. In addition, bandages with Leukotape compress the tissue and thus promote healing in the case of inflammation and injuries to the ankle joint.
If an ankle joint is to be taped, mistakes are often made in practice, especially when using the tape on loan. However, the success of taping depends strongly on the technique and type of application. There are five rules, the 5 A’s: There are several ways of taping the ankle joint, so here are two examples.
A relatively simple kinesio tape is applied in three steps as follows:
- Measure and attach: First unroll the desired length from the roll and determine the exact length by placing it on the body
- Tearing off: Especially in case of injuries, the used piece should be torn off already after measuring and not only during the application
- Create: Apply the tape to the ankle joint using the appropriate technique.
- Modelling: Finally, by pressing lightly, the contact to the skin or the tape underneath is improved and thus also the durability. These rules should be followed for each strip.
The first strip runs from the outer ankle under the sole of the foot to the inner ankle. The tape should end about 5-6cm above both ankles.
Under traction, the tape is stuck from the outer ankle over the affected area to the sole of the foot and from here loosely back over the inner ankle. Taping the next rein at the ankle joint is similar, but crosses on the back of the foot. The strip is slightly longer than the U-bridle and is placed on the sole of the foot in the area of the heel, with both ends going up the same length.
Over the affected area, the tape should be applied with a light pull, the other end loosely in the opposite direction. With these two reins you can easily tape the ankle joint, if it is mainly used for prophylaxis. It supports the ankle joint and helps to prevent it from twisting when jogging through difficult terrain or playing soccer.
If the ligaments are unstable, further reins are added. If necessary, several shorter (approx. 15-20cm) strips can be added over the painful areas towards the big toe.
These should tap the ankle joint with sufficient tension. This gives the ligaments additional stability. A bandage with inelastic leukotape could look like this: First, a strip is stuck underneath the calf muscles and over the ankle around the lower leg.
A second strip is then applied perpendicularly over the underside of the foot from ankle to ankle and should go over the painful structures or those to be protected (similar to the U-bridle). Then the bandage is stabilized with further strips that are glued around the lower leg and over the second rein. This way of taping the ankle joint offers more stability but less freedom of movement.
When taping the ankle joint, always make sure that the bandage is not too tight. If the foot starts tingling or becomes numb, the bandage must be removed. The skin should be clean and shaved if there is a lot of hair.
Taping the ankle joint is often used in soccer. Soccer is a sport that puts great strain on the ankle joint. Constant changes of direction, a lot of walking and the influence of the opponent make taping of the ankle joint a good idea.This reduces the risk of twisting or making other unwanted movements when playing soccer.
In addition, most physiotherapists will tap the ankle after an injury while playing soccer to aid healing. Especially people who are prone to twisting should tap their ankle before playing soccer. However, one must always be aware that this is not a safe protection against ankle injuries.
A combination of Kinesio Tape and stronger, inelastic tape is often used for soccer. Often an ankle joint is also taped when jogging. In addition to suitable footwear, the ankle joint can be taped to provide additional stability when jogging.
This can make sense on a straight stretch of road with a previous ligament injury, but especially jogging through uneven or difficult terrain puts a lot of strain on the ankle joint. Therefore, a bandage on the ankle joint can effectively prevent the ankle from twisting while jogging. Even if the training intensity increases, e.g. in view of a competition, the ankle joint can be taped to reduce the load on the structures. However, the bandage should not interfere with jogging, possibly a break must be taken or other measures taken.