Kinesiology Taping for Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain

Kinesiology tape (KT tape) is sometimes used to treat plantar fasciitis. When placed lengthwise across the bottom of the foot, this stretchy tape can help reduce pain and support your arch.

This article discusses the use of kinesiology tape for plantar fasciitis and how to apply it.

Benefits of Taping for Plantar Fasciitis

Kinesiology tape is one treatment your physical therapist may use to help provide relief from your plantar fasciitis. The main goals of using kinesiology tape for plantar fasciitis include:

• Decreasing pain
• Taking the pressure off of your plantar fascia
• Supporting your foot's natural arch
• Facilitating muscles surrounding your foot to provide more support

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation or irritation of the plantar fascia. This is the thick band of tissue that runs from your heel to your toes and provides shape and stability to your foot's arch. Taping can help support the plantar fascia and reduce stress on this part of your foot. 

Some people with specific medical conditions should not use kinesiology tape. This is why it's important to first speak to your physical therapist before applying kinesiology tape to your foot. Your physical therapist can help determine if your specific condition is likely to benefit from using kinesiology tape and make sure you're applying it properly.

How to Apply Kinesiology Tape to Your Foot

First, review the different types of tape strips necessary to use kinesiology tape. To apply the tape to your foot, you may need a friend to help you.

Here is one way to use kinesiology tape for plantar fasciitis:

1. Position your foot out in front of you and gently flex your foot and toes up towards your knee.
2. Anchor the first 2 inches of a tape strip onto the ball of the foot (with no stretch). Then apply the strip (with moderate stretch) along the bottom of the foot. Anchor the last 2 inches of the strip onto the back of the heel (with no stretch).
3. Place another strip across the first strip (with moderate stretch). Be sure to secure the ends of this strip (with no tension) onto the upper sides of your foot.
4. Repeat this last step until your entire medial arch is covered (approximately two to three strips).

The kinesiology tape should be comfortable and should not be folded on the underside of your foot. You can keep the tape on for two to five days, and it can get wet. If it starts to peel away, simply remove it.

Your physical therapist may recommend using kinesiology tape on other muscles that surround your foot and ankle. This can help inhibit or facilitate those muscles that may be contributing to your plantar fasciitis. Taping to your shin (anterior tibialis), calf, or posterior tibialis muscles may be necessary to fully treat your condition.

Summary

If you have foot and heel pain due to plantar fasciitis, you may benefit from kinesiology taping to help treat your condition. Kinesiology tape is applied to the bottom of the foot to help support your arch and relieve pain from plantar fasciitis. This treatment is usually done as a part of physical therapy, but you can also apply it at home.

Using KT tape for foot pain is relatively new, so its effectiveness has yet to be evaluated. If you do decide to try KT tape, discuss it with your physical therapist so you can be sure it's applied correctly and is the right treatment for your condition.