Taping Techniques for Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

Taping methods used to the foot, ankle, and heel may help with pain alleviation and injury prevention when treating Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction. The painful condition of plantar fasciitis can affect runners and athletes of all levels. It’s caused by overuse, training on hard surfaces, faulty footwear, or plain old flat feet. Taping may aid in the foot’s ability to absorb impact and promote optimal biomechanics.

This post will go through how to apply kinesiology tape for PTTD, as well as other taping and bracing techniques.

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction Taping Techniques

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction taping can be performed in many ways. You may need to experiment with different choices to see which one(s) gives you the greatest pain alleviation and support. You can also get expert advice for your kinesiology tape needs from a physical therapist or podiatrist. Here are instructions on how to use the three most common methods, which may be used alone or in combination.

Tips Before Getting Started

The tape may provide proprioception (awareness of how your foot moves) and gentle support to prevent collapsing into a flatfoot deformity when applied directly across the arch. It is a simple method that reduces stress on the posterior tibialis and improves biomechanics for weight-bearing activities.

Cut a tiny piece of tape that is long enough to span the bottom of your foot horizontally (perpendicularly to the direction of your toes).
Soak the area you’ll be taping in clean water or alcohol to remove any soap residue.
To reduce the chance of early peeling, trim the tape’s edges with scissors.
To keep the tape in place, attach one edge to the outside edge of the foot (midfoot/base of 5th metatarsal), so it crosses over the bottom of the arch.
When you’re ready to apply the tape, pull it taut and stretch it out a bit on the bottom of the foot.
The other end of the tape should be attached to the top of the inside of your foot (once again- this is where it’s most comfortable)
To improve adhesion, massage the tape.
If you have big feet, consider adding a second layer that is staggered to overlap approximately 50 percent with the first line of tape.
Keep on for up to 3 days if your skin can tolerate it, then remove carefully and reapply as needed.
Combine with any of the following approaches to get the most out of your ankle and foot protection.

The posterior tibialis muscle can benefit from applying tape along the inside of the ankle. It may also assist with proprioception and biomechanical feedback with activities such as walking and running, allowing for gradual relief of tension on injured tissues. It may be seamlessly integrated into the arch approach we looked at above.

Cut a long strip of tape that will extend around the bottom of the heel and up along the inside ankle and calf.
Soak the area you’ll be taping in a diluted solution of soap and water or vodka.
To minimize peeling, use scissors to smooth the tape’s corners.
On the inside of the foot, place one edge of tape (about 2 inches without stretching) against the outside edge of the heel (underneath the outside ankle bone).
As you pull the tape under the heel, apply a light stretch.
Continue to pull as you wrap the tape up toward the ankle and over the medial malleolus, or inner ankle bone.
Then, as you come to an end of the tape along the inner lower leg, make sure it’s parallel with the shin bone.
Place the anchor at roughly one half to two-thirds of your shin bone.
Rub the tape gently until it is firmly adhered.
Consider adding a second layer of tape for larger feet and ankles that is staggered to overlap about 50 percent with the initial piece.
Leave the tape on for up to three days, as long as your skin can tolerate it, then carefully remove and reapply as needed.
This technique can be used in conjunction with any of the others,

If you have a PTTD injury, taping the heel can provide gentle support and prevent excessive ankle range of motion. This is a good addition to the other taping techniques that were reviewed above.

Remove the cloth liner from the heel, and wrap a piece of tape across the back of it.
Soak the area you’ll be taping with liquid or bar soap and water, then rinse clean with alcohol.
To minimize the risk of peeling, use scissors to round the tape’s edges.
Attach one edge of the tape (without stretching) To the out of doors fringe of the foot at the bottom of the little toe in order that it wraps back behind and across the Achilles tendon.
Gently take hold of the tape and pull it from the rear of the heel to the outside edge of the foot.
Continue pulling as you presently move alongside the internal fringe of the foot until you reach the bottom of the big toe.
Tether the tape to the big toe.
Take care to keep the tape beneath the ankle bones for comfort and heel support.
Rub the tape again to enhance adhesion.
Consider including a 2d layer this is staggered to overlap about 50% of the first tape for larger feet and ankles.
Remove the tape carefully and reapply as needed, leaving it on for up to 3 days if your skin can tolerate it.

How Kinesiology Tape Works

Kinesiology tape is commonly used to enhance foot and ankle feedback and aid in biomechanically correct motions. The tape’s elastic properties allow you to be fully conscious of how you move because it tugs at your skin. It also assists with blood flow and pain alleviation by lifting the skin. It can help to relax a muscle or give it a tiny push to work more effectively depending on how it is used.

Kinesiology tape can be used with other treatments, such as stretching and strengthening exercises, to help you recover from an injury.

Treatments for PTTD

Plantar fasciitis, peroneal tendonitis, bunions, general foot or ankle discomfort, Achilles tendonitis, and a variety of other ailments are some examples of when Kinesio tape might be used.

Other Options

Braces or athletic tape that wrap around the ankle and/or foot and provide compression support are other treatment options for PTTD.

Athletic Tape

Athletic wrap, fiberglass tape, and other sports-specific tape are all effective at boosting short-term ankle and foot stability. They also can resource withinside the prevention of ligament damage from rolling of the ankle (inversion ankle sprains). It’s composed of cotton fibers that don’t stretch and are typically utilized during high-impact activities like football and basketball for support. Athletic tape is less comfortable and can only be worn for a few hours at a time. If you require this sort of tape, an athletic trainer or physical therapist can show you how to utilize it.

Bracing

Bracing can be an effective long-term treatment for ankle and foot instability. If your foot or ankle injury has resulted in persistent instability or damage, or if you wish to avoid another break, you might require a Lower-Leg Brace.

There are a number of different PTTD braces available, but you’ll need to pick one based on your specific deficits. A neoprene ankle brace or a more rigid brace might be used to prevent excessive foot and ankle movement. If you’re not sure which brace is best for you, talk to your orthopedic doctor or therapist.

Compare Different Types of Braces Here

Give Yourself the Upper Hand

Although kinesiology tape on its own may not be able to heal your PTTD, when used in combination with other treatment choices, it might help you get back to feeling better faster. Kinesiology tape is a low-cost, high-impact recovery tool in your arsenal that can make a significant impact on your mechanics and help you achieve your goal of being pain-free. It can also be used to determine whether a generic orthotic, a custom orthotic, or a brace is appropriate for support of the arch of the foot. It’s definitely worth a shot!