Article Text
Abstract
Design Cross-sectional study.
Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the stability of the participants by using the COP tracing area while being applied ankle taping and without ankle taping during static and dynamic manoeuvre.
Background Ankle taping is a very common technique used in sports as well as in clinical aspects on the effort of providing stability to the joint. It has become controversial the evidence presented on the benefits of stability while using diverse taping techniques, and the use of different type of tapes.
Methods and Measures 8 healthy students (7 females and one male) performed single-leg standings with eyes open and eyes closed for 10 s (static tests), jumped with single-leg landings (dynamic test) on a force plate across 3 ankle taping conditions (Dynamic taping, Athletic taping, and no tape). Subjects were taped for prevention of a lateral ankle sprain with the full dorsiflexed foot. The boundary of all the COP position for each trial were detected and the COP tracing area was calculated by Matlab-based program.
Results The COP tracing area demonstrated less range while using athletic taping in the dynamic test. In static tests, the COP tracing area showed less range while using dynamic taping for both eye open and eye closed condition.
Conclusion The preliminary results indicated the athletic taping may improve the stability during the dynamic movement but not during the static task. In more demanding task, the participants may benefit from better ankle stabilisation. However, in lower demanding task, maintaining stability require more somatosensory input and minor adjustment. The athletic taping may decrease those functions since the ankle joint was fixed and the surrounding muscles, tendons or capsules could not react properly.