Ankle taping...

Ankle taping is an effective way of providing relief and protection to a sprained ankle. It keeps the ankle warm, and prevents it from being displaced again. This way your leg gets the necessary support and does not hurt as much. Ankle taping must be done immediately after injury.

Technique Of Ankle Taping: A proper technique of ankle taping has to be followed in order to provide effective relief to a sprained ankle. The following gives the correct technique of ankle taping.
You must have the necessary equipment: a roll of 1 to 2-inch wide athletic tape and a pair of scissors.

- The ankle should be kept at 90 degrees before starting.
- 1-2 layers of under wrap should be affixed.
- For this, wrap a piece of athletic tape under the heel and bring the two ends up to the ankle on either side. The tape should form a U-shape. Wrap a second piece of tape around the base of the heel, bringing the ends of the tape to form a 90-degree angle with the first piece. Repeat the process to apply eight such pieces. - Try and maintain a figure of 8 as far as possible.
- 3 – 5 stirrups should be placed from one anchor to another and attached to form a U-shape from inside to outside.
- The stirrups should then be secured over the anchors.
- Two strips of heel-locks should then be applied on each side to provide support to the rear ankle area.
- Finally, a closure has to be applied to seal the arrangement.
- Ensure that the application is wrinkle-free, and the tension is equal and appropriate.

Ankle Taping - An Effective Remedy For Sprains: While recovering from injury, simple exercises can help your ankle regain strength and become flexible. Ankle taping for sprains improves movement both before and after exercise. It also provides the necessary protection to the injured ankle.

Instructions To Be Kept In Mind: It’s always better to follow these time-tested instructions while ankle taping:

• Learn how to tear the tape. It can be difficult at first, but with practice, it becomes easy.
• Do not allow the tape to become wrinkled as this can lead to blisters and discomfort. Avoid forcing the tape in any direction, as that can cause it to get wrinkled.
• Try placing the tape strips so that they overlay one another by one half the width of the tape. It is a good rule to cover each area with two layers of tape.
• Do not apply the tape too tightly as it will lead to constriction of blood vessels.

By following these instructions ankle tapping can be much easier.

Sprained Ankles: A sprain is one of the most common injuries to the ankle. The long-term consequences of an ankle sprain could be chronic ankle pain. A sprained ankle is actually the result of stretching and tearing of ligaments. Typically, the talo-fibula ligament is damaged. A sprained ankle inhibits the use of your foot and decreases your mobility. It also makes your ankle more vulnerable to another sprain. This is where ankle taping comes in. It gives the right amount of protection to sprained ankles. Ankle taping should be done immediately on the occurrence of a sprain.

Ankle Bracing Versus Taping

Bracing: An ankle brace protects the ligaments not only during recovery, but also when returning to sport or exercise. However, bracing cannot be a substitue for strengthening exercises. When comparing bracing to taping, the mobile nature of the skin as it moves over the subcutaneous tissue, which covers the bones and ligaments, causes the effectiveness of the tape to decrease. Perspiration can also limit the effectiveness of tape. However, when extra athletic tape is applied to specifically restrict motion, its protective function is greatly improved. Ankle bracing fares slightly better versus ankle taping.

Ankle Brace Logistics: Prophylactic ankle braces are considered superior to athletic tape as it offers more rigidity. Moreover, additional supports are used to enhance the braces, and the material used is much thicker than athletic tape. But, there could be a decrease in the support provided by prophylactic ankle braces after activity. In addition, braces are not as good at reducing the mobility of the ankle as tapes. Done the right way, ankle taping is the best method of providing the sprained ankle relief and comfort. It offers the best possible support to your injured ankle and helps in a speedy recovery.