How to Tape for Plantar Fasciitis

The most effective way to treat plantar fasciitis (inflamed and painful foot arches) is to reduce the causes. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by being overweight, standing too long or wearing non-supporting shoes. When losing weight and taking time off your feet are not options, you may get some relief if you tape your foot for plantar fasciitis.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 1/2-inch tape
• 1-inch tape

Tape an Anchor Layer of Tape on Your Foot

1. Use 1 1/2-inch sports injury tape for the base of your foot taping.

2. Ask a friend or your team doctor to help you tape your painful foot. You will get the best taping results if another person wraps the foot for you.

3. Lay face down on a table or couch with your injured foot extended off the edge. This will make it easier for your assistant to tape your foot.

4. Have your helper place a base layer of tape around your foot. This layer of tape should extend around the ball of your foot.

5. Continue with the anchor tape layer by placing a strip of tape around the base of your foot. This piece should extend along the base of the foot, around the base of the heel, and connect to the tape you've already placed around the ball of your foot.

Continue Taping With Smaller Tape

6. Use 1-inch sports injury tape for the remainder of your plantar fasciitis taping. The smaller gauge tape is easier to maneuver across the bottom of your foot than larger tape is.

7. Begin taping the bottom of the foot at the joint underneath your small toe. Wrap the tape in a loop around the heel to hold it in place. Finish this loop at the same place you began and cut the tape.

8. Repeat this same loop around the heel technique with another piece of tape. This time you should begin and end at the joint on the ball of your foot just underneath your big toe.

9. Alternate taping these two loops over again until you have done each one three times. This will result in a strong taping criss-crossing the arch of your foot.

Finish Taping Your Foot

10. Use your 1 1/2-inch tape to complete taping your foot for plantar fasciitis.

11. Place a piece of tape horizontally across the bottom of the foot. Begin on the tape at the edge of your foot at the ball of the foot and end at the tape at the other end of the ball of the foot. This creates a splint effect in combination with the looped tape.

12. Continue placing pieces of tape across the foot this way until the entire bottom of the foot is covered in tape.

Tips & Warnings

• The use of a night splint can help reduce pain by stretching the plantar fascia and calf muscles.

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[pixeldust]

on 7/12/2009 the instructions need pictures to assist in the correct placement of the tape. These instructions are confusing to me.