How to Tape an Ankle Sprain Using Bandage
One of the more common foot injuries is the ankle sprain. When you move in such a way that the ankle is forced out of its normal position, a sprain occurs. Such injury-inducing movements can cause an ankle ligament (or more) to stretch. Depending on the extent of the injury, the ligament can also be partially or completely torn. Awkward foot landings while running, jumping or pivoting can lead to this type of injury.
An ankle sprain needs to be attended to immediately. If left untreated, it can get aggravated and lead to long-term problems. People with ankle sprains are usually advised to apply the rest, ice, compress, and elevate (RICE) method.
To correctly execute the compression part of the RICE method, follow the steps below to get relief for your sprained ankle. Doing the following properly will also help your ankle heal.
Steps in ankle sprain compression with a bandage
1. Choose a bandage you want to use.
Whether or not you have bandage in your first aid kit, it is preferred that you use good quality stretchable cloth bandage.
We recommend that you use a cloth elastic bandage or crepe bandage. However, any elastic bandage brand will work for this procedure. But be sure to use wider bandages – about one-and-a-half and three inches wide. This is because wider bandages are much easier to use for compression purposes.
The most comfortable elastic bandages are made of cloth. These are made of stretchy cloth so they are easy to manipulate. Moreover, they are reusable. All you need to do is wash the bandage after use. This way, it is clean and ready to be used if the need ever arises again.
There are bandages that come with metal clips. You can use these to securely fasten the end of the compression wrap. However, if there are no metal clips available, you can use medical tape from your first aid kit instead. All you need to do is cut the required length of tape and stick it to the end of the bandage. Of course, you need to do the taping only when the wrap is complete.
If you do not have medical tape, there’s still a way to fasten the bandage. All you need to do is to tuck the tip of the bandage into the wrap once done.
2. If the bandage is loose, try rolling the bandage into a tight coil first.
By keeping the bandage this way, you can easily use it for compression. Prepare the bandage. Ideally, compression wraps must fit snugly against the foot and ankle. By keeping the cloth wrap coiled tightly from the start, wrapping comes easier. There will be no need to stretch and readjust the bandage when you realise later that it’s a bit loose.
3. Properly position the stretchy cloth bandage against the foot.
If it’s your ankle, try to place the rolled bandage on the inside of your foot. However, if it is someone else’s ankle, an easier position would be to put the rolled bandage against the outer side of the foot. Either way, make sure the coil faces away from the foot to be wrapped. This way, the coiled section of the bandage remains on the outer side of the foot during wrapping. You’ll have an easier time wrapping the foot in this manner.
4. Check if you need additional padding or support.
For support, you can put a gauze pad on both sides of the affected ankle prior to wrapping the foot. You can also use horseshoe-shaped foam padding for this purpose. Doing so adds a layer of stability to the compression wrap.
To always be prepared for such an eventuality and other emergencies, be sure to have first aid kit supplies at home.
You can get your first aid kit in Australia and other safety supplies from us at MediBC.
Strapping Tape, Cohesive Bandages & Cold Packs
The strapping, cohesive bandages, and cold packs you need to manage an ankle sprain on the field or at home.
