Things You'll Need:
- 3-inch athletic tape
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Step 1
Ask a friend to tape the leg for you. It may be difficult to hold your leg in the proper position when you try to tape up the tendon yourself.
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Step 2
Sit down with your leg extended in front of you. Keep your foot in a relaxed position. Your toes should not be pointed forwards nor held back. This will ensure that the tape will not buckle or bind once it is in place.
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Step 3
Shave any excessive hair off the lower leg. This will ensure that the tape adheres well to the skin. Proper adhesion is necessary for the tape to support the Achilles tendon.
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Step 4
Place two strips of tape around the top of the foot. These should overlap each other and sit around the ball of the foot.
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Step 5
Apply two strips of tape around the calf muscle, about half way up the calf. These, in conjunction with the strips on the ball of the foot, will serve to anchor the rest of the taping in place with tension.
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Step 6
Begin a vertical strip of tape at the underside center of the foot anchor strips. While holding the tape taut, continue the strip all the way up to the center of the calf anchor strips.
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Step 7
Place another strip of tape vertically, but run the tape just to one side of the heel, rather than down the center of it as you did with the last piece. Affix to the calf anchor.
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Step 8
Repeat this vertical taping process, passing the next strip over the other side of the heel.
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Step 9
Create a later ankle lock to provide even greater ankle support. Begin a strip of tape on the inside of the calf anchor. Wind the tape around the ankle and just under the heel.
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Step 10
Complete the ankle lock by placing a vertical strip of tape at the center of the heel. Pull the tape tight and continue to tape up to the calf anchor.
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Step 11
Fill in any remaining exposed areas with tape. This will help prevent blistering and cutting from tape edges against bare skin.
