Purpose

• Provide support to lift and stabilize the arches of the foot, particularly the medial longitudinal arch.
• Maintain alignment and reduce arch pain and overall strain of the plantar fascia, intrinsic foot muscles and tendons, and/or ligaments of the foot.

Pre-Tape Testing

• Determine MOI (traumatic injury versus repetitive overuse strain versus pathological biomechanics/malalignments versus muscular imbalances versus poor footwear).
• Ask if they have been taped before and if there were any issues encountered.
• Rule-out allergies to sprays and/or taping products.
• Inspect the skin for any signs of soft tissue injury (i.e., cuts, abrasions, blisters).
• Check motor, sensation, and circulation (MSC) before execution of the support technique.

Components and Execution Procedures

• Individual Positioning:  Seated position with their foot off the end of the treatment table, in a relaxed, slightly plantarflexed position.
• Preparation:  Apply a light misting of skin toughener or quick-drying adherent over the dorsal and plantar aspect of the foot.  This support technique is applied directly on the skin so there is no need to apply pro-wrap prior to taping.
• Anchors:  Apply a small strip of 2-inch moleskin (approx. 3 to 4 inches; 7.5 to 10 cm) behind the heel. Ensure that the individual has their ankle at 90° so that the skin at the posterior heel (calcaneus) is taut. This strip will help to reduce excessive friction when subsequent tape strips cross in this location.
• Apply a strip of 2-inch Hypafix (a.k.a. coverall) tape on the dorsum (top) of the foot, extending from the medial aspect of the head of the first metatarsal to the lateral aspect of the head of the fifth metatarsal.
• Support Strips:  Using a split roll (0.5 to 0.75 inches, depending on the size of the foot), start on the medial aspect of the distal anchor, progressing around the calcaneus and finish on the plantar aspect of the foot underneath the metatarsal heads.
• Repeat on the lateral aspect by starting on the lateral aspect of the foot at the distal anchor, progressing around the calcaneus and finish on the plantar aspect of the foot underneath the metatarsal heads.
• Repeat two more times on each side, while finishing each strip in a different location along the metatarsal heads. The ends of these trips should be found along the plantar aspect of the metatarsal heads.
• Closing Strips:  Using a full roll, start on the lateral aspect of the heel, then pull the tape under the arch to anchor on the dorsum of the foot. Repeat this strip but overlap and move towards the metatarsal heads. This is a basic “low-dye” technique.

• Elastic Wrap “Sock”:  Finally, using 2-inch elastic tape, start on the lateral aspect of the foot, progressing towards and around the calcaneus, go under the foot and back to the start position. Continue from here, to the top of the foot, then around the dorsum of the foot to the first MTP joint, progressing under the metatarsal heads, and finish up by contouring and “bending” the tape until you get to the fifth MTP joint. From this point, progress along the dorsum of the foot, towards the medial aspect of the calcaneus, around the posterior calcaneus, along the plantar aspect of the foot towards the first MTP. Continue to the dorsum of the foot with minimal tension on the tape and wrap the foot to cover any windows that would be present on the plantar aspect.

Post-Tape Testing

• Check motor control, sensation and circulation (MSC) after application.
• Manually assess the foot to test the integrity of the support technique. In other words, has the support technique limited the movement(s) that are painful?
• Functionally assess the foot to test the integrity of support technique. This testing should be specific to the individual’s sport or activity and specific to their position in that same sport or activity.