Placing Crossing Strips
Sit down on a flat surface. Great options include the floor or an elevated table, depending on what's available to you. Although a table may make it easier for someone else to wrap your knee, you need to make sure it's stable.
Elevate your knee with a rolled towel or similar item (optional). This should put your knee at a 30 degree angle. Although you don't have to do this, it makes it easier to hold your knee in place during the wrapping. Without the support of a towel or similar object, you may find it too tiring or painful to hold your knee in place. If you don't want to use a towel, you could try a water bottle or a round foam massaging roller.
Apply a hypo-allergenic base, if you're allergic to sports tape. The base layer, which goes under your tape, will protect you from an allergic reaction. Make sure that your entire knee is covered in a base layer before you start wrapping your knee. It's best to wrap your knee with the base layer using the same method as you're using for your actual sports tape. Simply follow the procedure for wrapping your knee, but use the base layer instead of your sports tape. Once your base layer is in place, apply your sports tape.
Cut 14–15 inch (35.6–38.1 cm) strips of sports tape. Use scissors to cut your tape. If you're using pre-cut tape, simply pull the strips off the roll, as they're needed. This will be the standard strip length for this procedure. Most pre-cut rolls have 14 inch (35.6 cm) strips.
Apply the strip to your knee. Place one end of the strip about 4 inches (10.2 cm) above the knee, in the center of the thigh. Then, slowly smooth it down along the outside of your leg, crossing over the side of your knee. The strip should finish in the center of the calf, below the back of the knee. All strips should be placed so that circulation will not be cut off. It is best to always have a little tension when placing each strip. Do not pull hard or let the strip hang loose.
Add the next strip, starting below the knee and moving up. Place one end of a second strip of cut tape about 4 inches (10.2 cm) below the knee, in the center of the shin. Slowly smooth the strip up the outside of your leg, crossing over the side of the knee and intersecting the first strip on the side of the knee. The strip should finish in the center of the thigh, above the back of the knee.
Apply the strips to the inside of your knee. Repeat steps 2 through 5 on the inside of the knee to mirror the first two strips. This should create an X on each side of the knee. The ends of both X’s should start and stop in the same place.
Placing Anchors
Cut out a strip of tape that will go around your whole thigh. This length will vary person to person. You may want to measure your thigh before you cut the tape so that you don't waste any.
Apply the first anchor strap. Place one end of the strip on top of the ends of the two strips already placed, which should be 4 inches (10.2 cm) above the knee. This will be the top of your "X."
Wrap the piece around the leg. Go slowly so that your application is even. Cover the ends of the two strips on the back of your thigh. Finally, finish where you started. This anchors the crossing strips down.
Cut out a strip of tape that will go around your whole calf. This length will vary person to person. You may want to measure the tape before you cut it so that you don't risk wasting a piece.
Start this anchor at the lower points of your "X." Place one end of the strip on top of the ends of the two strips already placed, which should be 4 inches (10.2 cm) below your knee. Slowly wrap the piece around the leg, covering the ends of the two strips on the back of the calf. You should finish in the same place where you started, creating a circle around your leg. This serves as another anchor.
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