Influence of prophylactic ankle tapes on lower-extremity kinematics during a stop-jump task in chronic ankle instability

Background and objective: Numerous tape applications have been used in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, the effect of prophylactic ankle taping on lower-extremity kinematics is still not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of traditional taping, fibular repositioning taping, and kinesiology taping on the peak angles of the lower extremities in patients with CAI. Materials and Methods: A total of 14 men (age, 24.07 ± 4.46 years; height, 175.06 ± 5.10 cm; weight, 82.24 ± 10.38 kg (mean ± standard deviation)) with CAI identified using screening questionnaires (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, 17.64 ± 4.14; Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activity of Daily Living, 86.69 ± 6.71; and FAAM Sports Subscale, 75.45 ± 6.70) participated. The peak angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joints during a stop-jump task, with and without tape application, were collected using a three-dimensional motion system. Results: The following peak angles were measured: hip flexion, hip adduction (ADD), hip internal rotation (IR), knee flexion, knee abduction (ABD), knee IR, ankle dorsiflexion, ankle inversion, and ankle ADD. No significant differences were observed in the peak angle of each joint across conditions (hip flexion, F(3,39) = 0.85, p = 0.47; hip ADD, F(1.729,22.478) = 1.90, p = 0.18; hip IR, F(1.632,21.220) = 0.67, p = 0.49; knee flexion, F(3,39) = 1.24, p = 0.15; knee ABD, F(1.691,21.982) = 1.24, p = 0.30; knee IR, F(1.830,23.794) = 0.44, p = 0.63; ankle dorsiflexion, F(3,39) = 0.66, p = 0.58; ankle inversion, F(1.385,18.007) = 0.85, p = 0.40; ankle ADD, F(1.865,24.249) = 2.23, p = 0.13). Conclusion: The application of different taping techniques did not significantly change the peak joint angles of the lower extremities during a stop-jump task. These results contradict those of previous studies, suggesting that ankle taping restricts joint range of motion