Injuries - Taping a Sprained Ankle

An athlete with a history of repeated ankle sprains such as this is a prime candidate for a simple taping procedure to be done with one and a half inch white athletic tape. This is called a closed basketweave and is for an ankle with an inversion sprain. Inversion sprains (ankle rolling inward) are much more common because of the joint's configuration.

	Place two anchor strips on the distal leg and around the foot.
	Apply one stirrup, pulling from the leg's medial aspect, under the heel to the leg's lateral aspect. A horizontal 'horseshoe' strip from the foot's medial to lateral aspect is then applied.
	The procedure is then repeated until there are three stirrups and three horseshoes.
	Close in ankle with horizontal closure strips.
	Two heel locks are then applied to the ankle's medial and lateral aspects, making sure to pull on the medial aspect last, to finish the tape job pulling the foot into eversion.
	Completed Ankle Wrap