Pain in the ankles is usually due to a sprain, when the ligaments that hold the joints and bones in position get stretched beyond their capacity by the force of a twisted or abnormally contorted foot, with a severe strain often leading to tearing. Treatment of ankle pain is often done with an Ace bandage, which is made especially for securing torn or strained muscles and most commonly used on the arms, hands and feet.
Step 1
Hold the roll of the bandage in one hand and place the start or loose end of the band on top of the foot, just below the toes. Wrap this around the top of the foot two or three times to secure it in place.
Step 2
Proceed to move the bandage steadily upward while continuing to wrap the foot until the heel is reached.
Step 3
Wrap the bandage around the ankle and bring it back around to the foot in a type of figure-eight motion. When the band is brought around the foot, it should end up where it was left off when circling the ankle.
Step 4
Continue wrapping the ankle in the figure-eight motion, bringing the band around the ankle and down to the foot several times until the ankle is tightly secured with the band. The heel of the foot may be covered with the band or left open during the wrapping process.
Tips and Warnings
- With each wrap around the foot, give the band a sufficient pull to make sure it is not loose and woven tightly around the foot and ankle. A wider bandage will cover more area of the foot. A safe width is two to three inches.
- Do not wrap the band too tight around the foot or blood circulation will be cut off.
Things You'll Need
- Ace bandage
