Introduction: Tape Job to Help Shin Splints
This is a good tape job if a person has shin splints or fallen arches. I have done it on many athletes and it has helped them a lot.
Step 1: Supplies
Here is what you will need:
1) 1 roll White athletic tape
2) 1 split roll white athletic tap (you just get a white roll of tape and cut it in half and tear it so there are two ends of the tape)
3) 1 roll white Conform
The pictures are in order of what is listed.
Step 2:
Make sure foot is clean and there are no open wounds
on the foot. Put foot in flexed position. It needs to stay this way for
the entire tape job.
Step 3:
Wrap conform around the ball the foot. (The ball of the foot is right under the toes)
Step 4:
Take the split roll of tape and put the end on the outside of the big toe on the elastacon.
Then wrap around the heel of the foot. (Make sure any time you go around the heel you go on the heel and not on the Achilles tendon.)
End it on the same spot as you started.
Step 5:
Take the split roll again and start the roll on the outside of the little toe.
Then wrap the tape around the heel of the foot. End it on the same spot.
Step 6:
Take the split roll and start under the big toe
Go around the heel and end on the opposite side of the foot.
Step 7:
Repeat step six until all of the arch is completely covered.
Step 8:
With the non-split roll of white tape start on the outside of the foot (on the little toe side) and go right under the toes where all the ends of the split roll are at. End on the inside of the foot next to the big toe
Step 9:
Repeat step eight layering the tape at the half mark of the one you put down before
Continue doing this until you get to the fat pad of the heel.
Step 10:
Wrap all the white tape with the conform
Take a strip of white tape and tape down the end of the conform
Finished
2 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Interesting. But how does this help shin splints? I have bi-lateral unresolving shin splints and they act up sometimes. I just don't see how wrapping the foot in this way helps. Not saying it doesn't, I just don't see it. Can you explain this a little bit on how it works?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Do not even worry about asking I would love to explain. There are a couple of ways that your foot affects your shin. First one of your main shin muscles goes down your shin under your foot and attaches on the bottom of your foot. When this muscle gets irritated it affects the whole muscle not just one spot. Since you have to walk on the muscle that is hurting it causes the muscle to get more irritated making the shin splint worse. What the arch tape does if this is the cause of the shin splint it supports the muscle making it so it does not have to work as much. Since it does not have to work as much it helps to relieve the pain in your shin.
Another reason shin splints happen is because your arch in your foot collapses. If this is the case this tape job acts as an arch for your foot and because it acts like an arch it relieves the pain.
I do not know if these two things are the cause of your shin splints. But there are a couple of things I do for my athletes when they get shin splints that helps them recover. (You may or may not know this but I would like to help if I can) First I tell them to do an ice massage. What you do for that is you get an ice cube or freeze water in a cup and then you take it and on the area that hurts and move the ice in circles all over the injured area. Do this for five minutes. This helps numb the pain and it also helps the muscles calm down so they do not hurt as bad. Another thing I have them do, when their shin is not sore, is I have them sit down and tap their toe. This helps build the shin muscle. It is important to have a strong shin muscle so your other muscles in your lower leg do not pull the shin muscles out of place.
Just to let you know this tape job does not always work. There is another tape job that can be done. If you would like I can tell you how to do it.
Hope this was helpful. Sorry it was kind of long. Best of luck with your shin splints!