The effect of ankle Kinesio™ taping on ankle joint biomechanics during unilateral balance status among collegiate athletes with chronic ankle sprain

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport Vol. 45; pp. 161 - 167
• Main Authors: Sarvestan, Javad, Ataabadi, Peyman Aghaie, Svoboda, Zdeněk, Kovačikova, Zuzana, Needle, Alan R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2020; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Ankle; Ankle Injuries - complications; Ankle Injuries - physiopathology; Ankle Injuries - rehabilitation; Ankle Joint - physiopathology; Athletes; Athletic Tape; Athletic taping; Biomechanical Phenomena; Case-Control Studies; Elastic therapeutic tapes; Female; Humans; Investigations; Joint Instability - etiology; Joint Instability - physiopathology; Joint Instability - rehabilitation; Male; Movement - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Pain; Physical therapy; Postural Balance - physiology; Posture; Range of motion; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Sports medicine; Student athletes; Surface EMG; Sway velocity; Young Adult; Sway velocity; Elastic therapeutic tapes; Range of motion; Surface EMG
• ISSN: 1466-853X; 1873-1600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.06.007

To determine the effects of ankle Kinesio-taping (KT) on postural sway, lower limb ROM, and muscle activity during a unilateral balance tasks. Case control study design. Data were collected at the human movement analysis laboratory. 30 collegiate athletes with chronic ankle sprain (11 females and 19 males, 23.91 ± 2.58 years). Hip, knee and ankle joints ranges of motion (ROMs); postural sway area and velocities in both anteroposterior and mediolateral directions; and muscular activity amplitudes (% peak) of lateral and medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and peroneus longus in a 20s single leg balance test in two non-taped (control) and KT (intervention) conditions. Significant decrease observed in ankle lateral ROM (p = 0.048, d = 0.52), mediolateral postural sway velocity (p = 0.029, d = 1.25), and peroneus longus activity amplitudes (p = 0.042, d = 0.55) after KT application. Acute application of KT among athletes with chronic ankle instability could provide lateral mechanical support to the ankle, potentially decreasing the velocity of frontal plane sway, and decreasing the magnitude of muscle activation. These data suggest that KT may be beneficial for improving static joint stability among individuals with chronic ankle sprain, and thus could be considered an option to allow safe return-to-activity. •Athletes with chronic ankle sprain would be able to safely utilize the Kinesio™ taping as a means of ankle lateral support.•Ankle KinesioTM taping supports the ankle joint from lateral torques by limiting the frontal plane motions.•Limited ankle lateral range of motion decreased peroneus longus activity amplitudes during single leg balance performance.