Taping Benefits Ankle Joint Landing Kinematics in Subjects With Chronic Ankle Instability

Context : Although taping has been proven effective in reducing ankle sprain events in individuals with chronic ankle instability, insight into the precise working mechanism remains limited. Objectives : To evaluate whether the use of taping changes ankle joint kinematics during a sagittal and frontal plane landing task in subjects with chronic ankle instability. Design : Repeated measure design. Setting : Laboratory setting. Participants : A total of 28 participants with chronic ankle instability performed a forward and side jump landing task in a nontaped and taped condition. The taping procedure consisted of a double “figure of 6” and a medial heel lock. Main Outcome Measures : 3D ankle joint kinematics was registered. Statistical parametric mapping was used to assess taping effect on mean ankle joint angles and angular velocity over the landing phase. Results : For both the forward and side jump, a less plantar flexed and a less inverted position of the ankle joint were found in the preparatory phase till around touchdown (TD) in the taped condition ( P < .05). In addition, for both jump landing protocols, a decreased dorsiflexion angular velocity was found after TD ( P < .05). During the side jump protocol, a brief period of increased inversion angular velocity was registered after TD ( P < .05). Conclusions : Taping is capable of altering ankle joint kinematics prior to TD, placing the ankle joint in a less vulnerable position at TD.