Foot taping is an innovative technique for the treatment and prevention of symptoms manifested in the form of pain and stiffness of movement. The essence of the technique is to apply elastic patches to the affected area.
What is a teip?
Tape is a special elastic patch designed to immobilize joints.
The patch helps to fix the limb in the desired position, without provoking unpleasant or painful sensations. With overlay technology, there is no limitation of mobility, and thanks to a special material, the skin breathes well.
The patch is easy to clean and dries quickly, does not cause disturbances in the natural water exchange in the form of perspiration (sweating).
The application of a patch is called taping, and the duration of this procedure is on average about 2 weeks.
Features of the procedure
Taping for hallux valgus, as well as fasciitis, which are accompanied by pain while walking, is simplyindispensable procedure. To perform taping, a special material is used, which in its structure resembles an elastic bandage - teip. After applying a bandage to the area of the arch of the foot, there is a significant reduction in the load on the injured area, providing relaxation of the muscle fibers of the legs.
Thanks to the taping of the foot, which ensures that the limb is kept in the most comfortable position and the fascia is fixed in an extended form, the risk of sports injury is significantly reduced. In addition, taping of the lower leg area is carried out when the first signs of inflammation in the plantar fascia develop (such a pathology can be detected after X-rays).
Indications for conduction
Foot taping is used to treat flat feet and clubfoot. During this procedure, adults have significant positive changes in treatment, and children completely get rid of the pathology. In addition, this therapeutic method is used for paresis, due to the fixation of the limb, its physiological functionality is restored. Used for neurological diseases, various kinds of injuries and Achilles bursitis.
Taping can be used both in advanced disease and during rehabilitation.
Taping the foot for valgus is effective in the presence of the following symptoms:
- heel pain while walking;
- swelling of the heel and hyperemia of the skin;
- in the affected area of the limbthere is constant muscle tension;
- due to the inability to get down on the sole, the gait is disturbed.
Dignity of procedure
Taping of the foot shows a positive effect not only during therapy, but also during the rehabilitation period, preventing the formation and progression of the disease. This therapeutic method is quite simple to use and does not cause discomfort. Thanks to the tape, muscle fibers are stretched, and they stop exerting excessive pressure on the vessels, thereby beneficially affecting the local microcirculation. Given this mechanism of action, the following positive changes are distinguished under the influence of the methodology:
- pain reduction;
- reducing the load on the limb;
- remove hyperemia of the skin and puffiness;
- arch support.
Varieties of taping
There are several types of taping:
- Sports. It is used in sports medicine to prevent athletes from getting various injuries. In this case, the dressing is applied before the start of the workout, and the patch is removed after it ends.
- Medicinal. It is practiced in the case of the formation of an inflammatory disease of the foot, which is accompanied by painful sensations.
- Rehab. It is used to create a comfortable physiological position of the paralyzed leg. Often used when there isneurological diseases.
Valgus foot: taping technique
Taping the hallux valgus in children and adults has become a popular alternative to numerous previously used therapeutic techniques. The disease itself is distinguished by the displacement of the thumb to the rest, while a number of outwardly imperceptible negative disorders under the skin are noted. The exact cause of the development of this condition has not been identified, but among the probable causes are genetic predisposition, osteoporosis, flat feet, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Taping for a flat-valgus foot includes fixing a small amount of patch in a spiral on the thumb, fastening is performed from the outside of the limb. Another piece of patch is attached in such a way as to pull the finger to the side, thereby returning it to the correct position.
Taping in the diagnosis of flat feet
In the modern world, the problem of smoothing the transverse and longitudinal arch of the heel is widespread, resulting in a weakening of its shock-absorbing properties. Taping the foot with flat feet will solve this problem as soon as possible, especially in the early stages.
Performing this procedure with flat feet makes it possible to get rid of the need for long and complex medical manipulations. In addition, the effectiveness of performing special gymnastics is significantly increased. In case of diagnosis of pathology,dressing should be performed by the attending physician, since it requires maintaining a varying degree of tension, which is simply impossible to do on your own.
Taping for heel spurs
Fasciitis (heel spur) is a pathology that is characterized by the formation of painful sensations during the first morning steps. This is due to the presence of micro-tears in the foot that occur along with the load and heal throughout the night.
In the case of gluing a special tape, the fusion of micro-tears is prevented during the rest, and the arch and areas of the foot, stretched with the help of special gymnastics, are supported.
The taping technology for this pathology is that on the outside of the foot with maximum tension up to the calf, a special patch is pasted.
Taping the foot for fasciitis with adhesive tape
If it is not possible to purchase a tape, then you can use an adhesive plaster in a roll as a replacement. Having prepared this element, you can proceed directly to the application of the bandage:
- The basis of the bandage is applied. Use the patch to cover the widest part of the arch of the foot.
- Applying the second strip is done in the same way, but 1-2 cm higher, slightly overlapping the first strip.
- The tape is fastened at the base of the thumb, after which it is circled around the heel. Attaching the second end of the adhesive plaster is carried out on the inner edge of the vault.
- Fixing in progressstrips of plaster at the base of the little finger, after which the adhesive plaster is again circled around the heel and fastened to the edge of the arch.
- Follow steps similar to steps 3 and 4, but the stripes are applied a few centimeters closer to the fingers.
- From the toes to the heel tubercle and along the sole, 1-2 adhesive tapes are fastened. The heel stays loose.
- The fixing strip is glued on the sides of the thumb, around the foot and through the arch to the little finger.
It is worth emphasizing that self-taping of the toes is impossible. You will definitely need the help of a doctor or a person who has previously experienced this procedure.
Contraindications and side effects
Despite the many advantages of taping, the technique also has a number of contraindications. It is recommended to refrain from the procedure for older people who are characterized by the presence of sensitive skin, and also suffer from skin diseases that are systemic in nature. In this situation, taping can cause swelling, bruising and bruising. In addition, there is a possibility of stimulation of nociceptors, which increase pain and itching. In the event of such side effects, you should immediately remove the tape and consult a doctor for advice.
Reapply the bandage if these side effects occur:
- lower finger temperature;
- sharp blanching of the skin;
- numb fingers;
- tremblingand chills;
- increased pain.
If you visit a doctor to apply a bandage, then the likelihood of these side effects is almost zero. The main thing to remember is that in order to prevent diseases, the tape is forbidden to be worn for more than 10 days, since with prolonged use, a weakening of muscle tone is observed.
