Low Dye Technique (foot)
Used to alleviate stress & tension in the Mid Tarsal Joint (mid foot) and Plantar Fascia (heel and / or arch region).
♦ First two tapes:
1/ using tape of around 40 - 50mm in width i.e. Leukoplast Sport Tape, start proximal (just behind) the outside of the 5th MPJ (little toe joint) - see fig. 1...
2/ follow the lateral (outside) border of foot, around the heel and along medial (inside) border of foot to proximal (just behind) aspect of 1st MPJ (big toe joint) - see fig. 1...
- some suggest you need to adduct the forefoot (move forefoot inwards) before anchoring the tape but from my experience you do not need to if the tape is applied in a non weight-bearing position (which it should be anyway).
3/ apply the second tape just as you did with the first tape - it doesn't need to be directly on top of the first (i.e. it could either be a little higher or lower) - see fig. 2...
♦ Next three (3rd - 5th) tapes: Plantar Rest Straps -
4/ start lateral (outside) side of foot, slightly forward and inferior (below / under) to ankle joint - see fig. 3...
5/ follow down under foot, across plantar surface up to medial side (inside) aspect... finishing slightly in front but below medial side of ankle joint - see fig. 6...
6/ the 4th tape should start further distal (towards the toes) overlapping the 3rd tape by about a 1/3 or a 1/4 depending on the size / length of the foot - see fig. 4...
7/ follow down under foot, across plantar surface up to medial side (inside) aspect - see fig. 6...
8/ the 5th tape should start further distal (towards the toes) overlapping the 4th tape by about a 1/3 or a 1/4 depending on the size / length of the foot - see fig. 5...
9/ the tapes should now cover the plantar surface of foot / arch region as shown in fig. 6...
♦ Last (anchoring) Tape:
10/ last tape is applied just as the first two were i.e. from lateral border of foot, around heel and along medial border of foot - see fig. 7....
- Firmly press the tapes down and gently stand up.
- You will now notice that the foot is held in a more upright position with the arch held supported via a sling action. This will take stress off the Plantar Fascia for example to thus relieve pain and thus allow the region to heal.