Kinematics of Ankle Taping after a Training Session

Abstract

This study aimed to test the effectiveness of ankle taping on the limitation of forced supination during a change of direction, as well as the losses of effectiveness after a 30-minute training session. Fifteen young men with no ankle injury volunteered for the study. The static and dynamic ranges of movement (ROM) were measured before and after a training session. The dynamic measurements were recorded using high-speed 3D photogrammetry. The differences between static and dynamic measures of ankle supination and plantar flexion were significant. The losses of effectiveness during supination and ankle plantar flexion restriction were 42.3 % and 47.6 %, respectively. Ankle taping was effective in restricting the maximal static ROMs before a training session, but the effectiveness decreased after 30 min of training. The present study shows the necessity of performing dynamic ROM analysis of sports techniques involved in the ankle sprain mechanism in order to determine the degree of tape restriction after a training session, because there were differences between static and dynamic ankle ROMs. The lack of effects on the restriction of the dynamic plantar flexion would bring into question the necessity of ankle taping in subjects without previous injuries.