How to Wrap a Foot for Plantar Fasciitis
One treatment for plantar fasciitis is wrapping your foot. Plantar fasciitis is commonly to blame for heel pain. It results from thickening of the plantar fascia, which runs from your heel to the front of your foot. It can also be caused by high or low arches. Pain from plantar fasciitis is usually worse when you take your first steps in the morning. Other treatments include applying ice, stretching, particularly before getting out of bed, orthotics, night splints and ibuprofen for pain and inflammation. If all of these methods fail, you have the option of surgery.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Start with a clean, dry foot to make sure the tape will stick to your skin. Beginning at the base of your big toe, wrap a strip of tape along the side of your foot, along your heel and up the other side to your little toe.
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Apply a piece of tape starting from the base of your little toe and across the bottom of your foot to your heel on the opposite side. The tape should overlap the first piece. Repeat from your big toe across the bottom to the opposite side of your heel. You should now have crossed tape on the bottom of your foot.
Wrap a tape twice around the top and bottom of your foot, just below the ball of your foot. This will reinforce the top part of the crossed tape.
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Fill in using short pieces of tape to cover the open spaces on the bottom. Be sure the tape is smooth all over to prevent blisters.
Finish with strips across the bottom of your foot, from side to side, to secure it. When you are finished, only the front of your foot and your toes are exposed.
Tips
Rest your foot as much as possible. Supplements of glucosamine sulphate may help. For best results, combine the taping with other treatments.
Warnings
Do not leave the tape on for an entire day. It is best to wrap it in the morning and remove it at the end of the day.
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References
- Moustafa AM, Hassanein E, Foti C. Objective assessment of corticosteroid effect in plantar fasciitis: additional utility of ultrasound. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2016;5(4):289-296. doi:10.11138/mltj/2015.5.4.289
- Ordahan B, Türkoğlu G, Karahan AY, et al. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy versus kinesiology taping in the management of plantar fasciitis: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Rheumatol. 2017;32(3):227-233. doi:10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2017.6059
- Parreira Pdo C, Costa Lda C, Hespanhol LC Jr, et al. Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2014;60(1):31-9. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.008
Tips
- Rest your foot as much as possible. Supplements of glucosamine sulphate may help. For best results, combine the taping with other treatments.
Warnings
- Do not leave the tape on for an entire day. It is best to wrap it in the morning and remove it at the end of the day.