Assessment Of The Ankle Status Of Basketball Players Having Ankle Injury Preventing Taping

Abstract

PURPOSE: Ankle taping was used to provide extra support for a unstable ankle and it could affect range of motion, proprioception, and muscle strength of a healthy ankle during a game. It is not clear whether it is necessary for a athlete trainer to provide ankle injury preventing taping when a basketball player do not have any ankle problems. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ankle status of the basketball players who used to have ankle injury preventing taping before training or games. METHODS: Subjects were from one team of Taiwan Super Basketball league. Ankle taping was provided by athlete trainer when players requested. Subjects were assessed by CAIT (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool) and 3 ankle special test including anterior drawer test, talar tilt test (ADD and ABD). Among all the 17 team members, there were 8 players requested ankle taping before game or training but do not have any ankle injury in the previous month. Results: Among the 8 players(age: 25.75 ± 4.5 yrs, weight: 84.62 ± 13.5 kg, height: 188.82 ± 10.5 cm, basketball experience: 11.6 ± 4 yrs, 5 forward and 3 guards), 5 players(4 forwards and 1 guards) had full score (30) of CAIT and were all negative in the 3 special tests. For the other 3 players, one (guards) had 24 points of CAIT (pain when running on level surfaces and feels unstable sometimes during daily activity) and positive in all 3 special tests. The other player (guards) had 24 points of CAIT in right ankle (pain when walking on uneven surfaces and unstable during sharp turns run) and positive in anterior drawer test, talar tilt test-ADD. The last player (forward) had 24 points of CAIT in left ankle (pain when walking on uneven surface and unstable during sharp turn run or sport) and positive in anterior drawer test, talar tilt test-ADD. CONCLUSION: There are nearly half of the team members used to have ankle injury preventing taping. Only 3 players in this team really have ankle problem. Full score of CAIT means the player is contentment about the ankle of himself. And the players are actually have no problem according to the ankle by the result of negative special test. For players with healthy ankle, ankle taping may reduce jump height and ankle strength. Athlete trainer should educate player who have health ankle and feel confidence about the ankle state to play games without ankle taping in order to prevent negative impact on performance