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SportsAnkle taping: stirrups
Stirrups are the strips that run from the inner side of the leg, straight under the heel and up the outer side. In the closed basketweave they go over the anchors, three of them, each half a width forward of the one before.
Free to startScenarios
- Three stirrups first, then the three horseshoes.
- Stirrups alternated with the horseshoes, for the basketweave effect.
The steps
- Have the anchors in place on the lower leg and around the midfoot.
- Start firmly and fully on the inner side of the top shin anchor.
- Run the tape straight down so its front edge crosses the most prominent point of the inner ankle bone.
- Continue straight under the heel.
- Go up the outer side so the front edge crosses the most prominent point of the outer ankle bone, and finish fully and firmly on the top anchor.
- Seal the strip down securely before the next step.
- Second stirrup: start about half a width forward of the first and keep that half-width overlap along the whole strip.
- Third stirrup: half a width forward again, keeping the overlap until after it leaves the fifth metatarsal; depending on the foot, it goes straight up like the others or crosses the front of the shin and seals on the inner shin.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Hold the foot at 90 degrees, neutral or slightly turned out, during the whole procedure.
To pass
- Every stirrup crosses the most prominent point of both ankle bones.
- Half-width overlap kept and every strip sealed down.
Official source
Athletic training programs · University of West Alabama
Ankle taping for prevention of the inversion ankle sprain
The University of West Alabama athletic training program publishes the closed basketweave free, strip by strip.
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