Effects of kinesiotaping and athletic taping on ankle kinematics during walking in individuals with chronic ankle instability: A pilot study

Effects of kinesio taping on lower limb biomechanical characteristics during dynamic postural control tasks in individuals with chronic ankle instability

PURPOSE

Previous studies have demonstrated significant biomechanical differences between individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and healthy controls during the Y-balance test. This study aimed to examine the effects of kinesio taping (KT) on lower limb biomechanical characteristics during the Y-balance anterior reach task in individuals with CAI.

METHODS

A total of 30 participants were recruited, comprising 15 individuals with CAI and 15 healthy controls. All participants were randomly assigned three taping conditions: no taping (NT), placebo taping (PT), and KT, followed by the Y-balance anterior reach task. Each condition was separated by one-week intervals. Kinematic and kinetic data of the lower limbs during the movement phase were collected using the Vicon motion capture system (Vicon, T40, 200 Hz) and two Kistler force platforms (Kistler, 1000 Hz).

RESULTS

KT significantly improved the Y-balance anterior reach distance (P = 0.003) and peak ankle eversion angle (P = 0.019) compared to NT. Additionally, KT resulted in increased peak knee flexion angle (P = 0.002, P = 0.011) and peak ankle dorsiflexion angle (P <0.001, P = 0.005) relative to both NT and PT. KT also significantly reduced mediolateral center of pressure (COP) displacement (P = 0.001) and average velocity of mediolateral COP displacement (P = 0.033) in comparison to NT. Furthermore, KT decreased mediolateral center of gravity displacement (P = 0.002, P = 0.003) relative to both NT and PT.

CONCLUSION

KT significantly improved abnormal ankle posture by promoting greater ankle dorsiflexion and eversion angles. Additionally, KT reduced mediolateral COP displacement and average velocity to improve postural stability. These changes may contribute to reduced risk of ankle sprains. Therefore, KT may serve as an effective tool for managing recurrent ankle sprains in individuals with CAI.

Plantar massage or ankle mobilization do not alter gait biomechanics in those with chronic ankle instability: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterized by persistent neuromechanical impairments following an initial lateral ankle sprain. Ankle joint mobilization and plantar massage have improved the range of motion and static postural control in those with CAI. This study aimed to determine the impact of two-week joint mobilization and plantar massage interventions on gait kinematics and kinetics in individuals with CAI.

METHODS

A single-blind randomized trial was conducted with 60 participants with CAI, randomized into three groups: joint mobilization (n = 20), plantar massage (n = 20), and control (n = 20). The two treatment groups received six 5-min sessions manual therapy over a 2-week, while the control group received no intervention. Gait biomechanics were assessed on an instrumented treadmill before and after the intervention using 3D kinematics and kinetics analysis. Analyses compared biomechanical outcomes from each treatment group to the control group individually using a 1-dimensional statistical parametric mapping. The alpha level was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Eighteen participants per group were part of the final analysis. No significant main or interactions effects were found for ankle sagittal or frontal plane positions following either intervention (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). COP location relative to the lateral border of the foot also did not change (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that two-week joint mobilization and plantar massage interventions do not significantly alter gait biomechanics in individuals with CAI. These results support the need for gait-specific interventions to modify biomechanics in this population.

Randomized controlled trial on ankle biomechanics in the treatment of functional ankle instability with joint mobilization

Functional ankle instability (FAI) patients often experience restricted ankle dorsiflexion, increased inversion angle, and elevated ground reaction forces during walking, all related to altered kinematics of the talocrural and subtalar joints. This study aimed to investigate the potential positive impact of joint mobilization on FAI patients from a biomechanical perspective. The experimental group (EG, n = 17; Age: 20.06 ± 1.34 years; Height: 1.74 ± 0.07 m; Weight: 69.79 ± 11.20 kg; BMI:22.88 ± 2.63 kg/m2; CAIT:15.59 ± 2.58; M/F: 15/2) received joint mobilization + routine rehabilitation training, while the control group (CG, n = 16; Age: 20.50 ± 0.73 years; Height: 1.73 ± 0.09 m; Weight: 64.59 ± 7.21 kg; BMI: 21.65 ± 2.47 kg/m2; CAIT: 16.75 ± 2.21; M/F: 14/2) only received regular rehabilitation training. Biomechanical tests were performed in both groups after the 4-week intervention. The spatial parameters during walking (including step length, stride length, step width, step time, cadence, step speed, support time, and swing time), ankle flexion and dorsiflexion angle, inversion, and eversion angles, internal and external rotation angles, ankle torque, as well as the vertical ground reaction force were measured before and after the intervention. The results of the two-way ANOVA showed that the main effect of time was significant for step length (P < 0.001), stride length (P = 0.008), step speed (P < 0.001), the sagittal plane angle at touchdown (P < 0.001), maximum dorsiflexion angle (P = 0.005), sagittal plane toe off-ground angle (P < 0.001), peak flexion-dorsiflexion torque (P = 0.033), the first peak vGRF (P = 0.013), and second peak vGRF (P = 0.011). The main effect of Time * Group was significant for step speed (P = 0.044). The EG demonstrated significant improvements in step speed (P = 0.047), maximum dorsiflexion angle (P = 0.047), and the first peak vGRF (P = 0.028) compared to the CG. This study reveals that joint mobilization intervention enhances gait spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and kinetics, particularly in step speed, maximum dorsiflexion angle, and the first vGRF peak for the EG compared to the CG. Therefore, the rehabilitation strategy for patients with functional ankle instability should appropriately increase the use of joint movement to promote the functional recovery of FAI patients.

Effects of ankle Kinesio taping on knee and ankle joint biomechanics during unanticipated jumps in collegiate athletes

OBJECTIVE

Most biomechanical research on the application of Kinesio taping (KT) to the ankle joint focused on testing anticipated movements. However, ankle sprains frequently occur in real life in unanticipated situations, where individuals are unprepared and face sudden external stimuli. This situation is completely different from the anticipated situation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ankle KT application on the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the knee and ankle joints during unanticipated jump tasks in collegiate athletes.

METHODS

Eighteen healthy collegiate athletes experienced three taping conditions in a randomized order: no taping (NT), placebo taping (PT), and KT, and performed unanticipated jump tasks. A 9-camera infrared high-speed motion capture system was employed to collect knee and ankle kinematic data, and a 3-dimensional force plate was utilized to collect knee and ankle kinetic data during the tasks.

RESULTS

During the right jumps, KT significantly increased peak knee flexion angle (P = 0.031) compared to NT and significantly decreased peak vertical ground reaction force (P < 0.001, P = 0.001) compared to NT and PT. During the left jumps, KT significantly reduced peak ankle inversion angle (P = 0.022, P < 0.001) and peak ankle inversion moment (P = 0.002, P = 0.001) compared to NT and PT.

CONCLUSION

During unanticipated jump maneuvers, KT reduced peak ankle inversion angle, peak vertical ground reaction force, and peak ankle inversion moment and increased peak knee flexion angle in collegiate athletes.

GaitNet+ARL: A Deep Learning Algorithm for Interpretable Gait Analysis of Chronic Ankle Instability

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a major public health concern and adversely affects people's mobility and quality of life. Traditional assessment methods are subjective and qualitative by means of clinician observation and patient self-reporting, which may lead to inaccurate assessment and reduce the effectiveness of treatment in clinical practice. Gait analysis becomes a commonly used approach for monitoring human motion behaviors, which can be applied to specific diagnosis and assessment of CAI. However, it is still challenging to recognize the pathological gait pattern for CAI subjects. In this paper, we propose an integrated deep learning framework to solve the CAI recognition problem using kinematic data. Specifically, inspired by the biomechanics of human body system, we create a simple graph neural network (GNN), termed GaitNet, that operates on a spatial domain and exploits interactions among 3-D joint coordinates. We also develop an attention reinforcement learning (ARL) model that determines attention weights of frames on a temporal domain, which is combined with GaitNet for prediction. The effectiveness of our method is validated on the kinematic NEU-CAI dataset which is collected in our institution using a stereophotogrammetric system. According to extensive experiments, we demonstrate that the selected key phases (i.e., sequences of frames with high attentions) significantly increase the predictability of the proposed biomechanics-based GNN model to differentiate between CAI cohort and control cohort. Moreover, we show a significant prediction accuracy improvement (20%-25%) by our approach compared to state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning methods.

Gait and muscle activity measures after biomechanical device therapy in subjects with ankle instability: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Health specialists suggest a conservative approach comprising non-pharmacological interventions as the initial course of action for individuals with repetitive ankle sprain due to ankle instability. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of biomechanical devices (Foot Orthoses, Ankle Orthoses, and Taping) on gait and muscle activity in individuals with ankle instability.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed on electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Clinical Trials.gov, Web of Science, and Scopus. The PEDro scoring system was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. We extracted data from population, intervention, and outcome measures.

RESULTS

In the initial search, we found 247 articles. After following the steps of the PRISMA flowchart, only 22 reports met the inclusion criteria of this study. The results show that biomechanical device therapy may increase swing time, stance time, and step. Additionally, studies suggest that these devices can reduce plantar flexion, inversion, and motion variability during gait. Biomechanical devices have the potential to optimize the subtalar valgus moment, push-off, and braking forces exerted during walking, as well as enhance the activity of specific muscles including the peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, tibialis anterior, gluteus medius, lateral gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and soleus.

CONCLUSION

Biomechanical devices affect gait (spatiotemporal, kinetic, and kinematic variables) and lower limb muscle activity (root mean square, reaction time, amplitude, reflex, and wave) in subjects with ankle instability.

Effects of Kinesio taping on lower limb biomechanical characteristics during unexpected jumping in patients with chronic ankle instability

PURPOSE

The current biomechanical research on the application of Kinesio taping (KT) to patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) has focused on testing the expected movements. However, unexpected movements are more common in actual sports. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of KT on the biomechanical characteristics of the knee and ankle joints during unexpected jumping movements.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with unilateral CAI were recruited to capture the biomechanical parameters during unexpected jumping movements under different interventions: no taping (NT), placebo taping (PT), and KT. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the differences in knee and ankle biomechanical characteristics among patients with CAI between the three intervention conditions.

RESULTS

At initial contact, the KT group demonstrated a significant decrease in ankle plantarflexion and knee flexion angles compared to the NT group (p < 0.05). At the early landing phase, the KT group had a significant increase in peak ankle dorsiflexion angle, peak ankle eversion angle, peak ankle dorsiflexion moment, and peak ankle eversion moment compared to the NT and PT groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the KT group had a significantly reduced peak knee flexion angle, peak knee eversion angle, and peak vertical ground reaction force (p < 0.05) compared to the NT and PT groups.

CONCLUSION

KT significantly improves the sprain-prone touchdown posture of patients with CAI. And reducing the risk of ankle sprains during the early landing phase by promoting ankle dorsiflexion and eversion angles and moments.

The immediate effect of synergistic muscles kinesio taping on function and balance of volleyball players with functional ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To determine the immediate effect of synergistic muscles Kinesio taping (KT) on the function and balance of volleyball players with functional ankle instability (FAI).

DESIGN

Parallel, superiority randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Twenty-six semi-professional volleyball players with FAI were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. All participants received KT of fibularis longus, gastrocnemius, and gluteus maximus muscles for one session. The intervention group received KT with 35 % tension, while the control group received KT without tension. The function was assessed using the side hop and single hop distance tests. Dynamic balance was assessed with the Y Balance test. The outcomes were measured at baseline, 20 min after KT, and 24 h after KT. Statistical analyses were performed using Mixed-model repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

The interactions of time*group for the outcomes of function using the single hop test and stability in the anterior direction of the Y Balance test were significant (p < 0.05). Within-group comparisons showed after KT, both groups experienced significant improvements in all outcomes compared to the baseline. Results of between-group comparisons revealed that the application of KT with tension compared to no tension significantly improved function and balance in the anterior of the Y Balance test.

CONCLUSIONS

Kinesio taping can be an effective treatment option to improve function and balance in FAI. Additionally, Kinesio taping with tension compared to KT without tension had superiority.

Effects of Ankle Orthoses, Taping, and Insoles on Postural Stability of Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition characterized by recurring instances of the ankle giving way and persistent symptoms, including pain and diminished function. Foot and ankle external supports are commonly used in clinical practice and research for treating CAI. This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of foot and ankle external supports on the postural stability of individuals with CAI to guide clinical practice and inform future research. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases from 1 January 2012 to 1 November 2022. Eighteen studies involving individuals with CAI were chosen in this systematic review. The quality of the included studies and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane Collaboration's tool for randomized controlled trials, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case-control studies, and the DELPHl-list for crossover trial studies. The external supports included in this review were ankle orthoses (elastic, semi-rigid, and active orthoses), taping (kinesiotaping and fibular reposition taping), and insoles (textured and supportive insoles). The outcome measures included static and dynamic postural stability tests, such as the single-leg stance test, star excursion balance test, Y-balance test, single-leg landing test, lateral jump test, walking test, and running test. The results showed that elastic orthoses, Kinesiotaping, and textured insoles demonstrated potential benefits in improving postural stability in individuals with CAI. Elastic orthoses decreased ankle joint motion variability, kinesiotaping facilitated cutaneous receptors and proprioceptive feedback, while textured insoles increased tactile stimulation and foot position awareness. However, the effects of semi-rigid orthoses, fibular reposition taping, and arch support insoles were inconsistent across studies. Future research should explore the long-term effects of these external supports, analyze the effects of different characteristics and combinations of supports, and employ standardized outcome measures and testing protocols for assessing postural stability.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Kinesiology Taping and Rigid Taping on Ankle Kinematics During Drop Landing in Individuals with Lateral Ankle Injury

BACKGROUND

Lateral ankle sprain is an injury that often occurs during sports or daily life activities. Athletic tape and kinesiology tape applications are among the external support treatment options especially for athletes to support the ankle and protect it from recurrent sprains. We sought to compare the kinematic stabilization effects of different ankle taping applications on the ankle joint during drop landing in individuals with a history of unilateral lateral ankle injury.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled study, 30 volunteers with unilateral ankle injury were evaluated. The participants were asked to land on one leg on the involved side and the contralateral side from a 30-cm-high platform. The same practice was repeated after applying kinesiology tape and rigid tape to the injured foot. Kinematic analysis of the foot and ankle was performed by recording three-dimensional spatial position information at a speed of 240 frames per second using infrared cameras.

RESULTS

The highest inversion angles of the involved foot at initial contact and 150 msec after initial contact were higher than those of the uninvolved side (P = .03 and P = .04, respectively). There was no significant difference in ankle kinematic values in the involved foot among kinesiology taping, athletic taping, and no taping applications (P = .74).

CONCLUSIONS

People with lateral ankle sprains show reduced inversion during landing. There were no significant differences among kinesiology taping, athletic taping, and no taping on the injured foot in terms of ankle kinematics. Care should be taken when using taping materials as protective measures for sports activities.

The Impact of Kinesiology Taping on a Greek Foot with a Hammertoe-A Case Report

Background and Objectives: Hammertoe, one of the most common toe deformities, causes pain due to overloading of the periarticular tissues and skin lesions. Additionally, it results in problems with footwear choice, an unattractive foot appearance and a deterioration in quality of life. The most common treatment for rigid and advanced deformities is surgery, and these procedures are widely described in literature. If the changes in the interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints are flexible (that mean they undergo correction without causing pain) or surgery is not possible, conservative treatment should be considered. No research, however, has been found detailing this treatment method. Conservative treatment includes the Kinesiology Taping (KT) method, which involves applying taping to correct deformities. This report describes the effect of KT treatment in a female patient with hammertoes. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric foot measurements (3D scanner) and foot loadings (baropodometric platform) are presented before KT applying, immediately after tapes application and after tapes removal following one month of use. Results: After using KT application parameters such as: foot length, maximum foot load, load under the area of the metatarsals II-III changed. Conclusion: Kinesiology Taping seems to be a symptomatic form of treatment of the effects of lesser toes deformity, therefore it is a good alternative for patients who do not want or cannot undergo surgery.

Gait Biomechanics Following Taping and Bracing in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Critically Appraised Topic

Clinical Scenario: Approximately 30% of all first-time patients with LAS develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). CAI-associated impairments are thought to contribute to aberrant gait biomechanics, which increase the risk of subsequent ankle sprains and the development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Alternative modalities should be considered to improve gait biomechanics as impairment-based rehabilitation does not impact gait. Taping and bracing have been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent ankle sprains; however, their effects on CAI-associated gait biomechanics remain unknown. Clinical Question: Do ankle taping and bracing modify gait biomechanics in those with CAI? Summary of Key Findings: Three case-control studies assessed taping and bracing applications including kinesiotape, athletic tape, a flexible brace, and a semirigid brace. Kinesiotape decreased excessive inversion in early stance, whereas athletic taping decreased excessive inversion and plantar flexion in the swing phase and limited tibial external rotation in terminal stance. The flexible and semirigid brace increased dorsiflexion range of motion, and the semirigid brace limited plantar flexion range of motion at toe-off. Clinical Bottom Line: Taping and bracing acutely alter gait biomechanics in those with CAI. Strength of Recommendation: There is limited quality evidence (grade B) that taping and bracing can immediately alter gait biomechanics in patients with CAI.

The Influence of Short-Term Kinesiology Taping on Foot Anthropometry and Pain in Patients Suffering from Hallux Valgus

Background and Objectives: Hallux valgus, one of the most common foot disorders, contributes to the formation of pain, changes foot proportions and hinders everyday functioning. In this study we wanted to verify if kinesiology taping improves hallux valgus and affects the position as well as reducing pain. Materials and Methods: Forty feet with hallux valgus were examined and the parameters were measured at three stages: before the kinesiology taping was applied, just after its application and after a month of use. Measurements were taken with a 3D scanner and a baropodometric platform. Results: When taping was applied, the hallux valgus angle decreased statistically significantly compared with pre-taping (p < 0.01). The use of taping for a month significantly reduced this angle compared with pre-taping (p < 0.05). Parameters such as foot length, the surface of the hindfoot and forefoot and hindfoot pressure on the ground changed. A change in the hallux position due to the taping produced significant changes in the perception of pain (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Kinesiology taping acts on the hallux valgus and foot position mechanically. This makes kinesiology taping an effective method of conservative treatment for patients who are not qualified for surgery.

Preliminary Evidence That Taping Does Not Optimize Joint Coupling of the Foot and Ankle Joints in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability

BACKGROUND

Foot-ankle motion is affected by chronic ankle instability (CAI) in terms of altered kinematics. This study focuses on multisegmental foot-ankle motion and joint coupling in barefoot and taped CAI patients during the three subphases of stance at running.

METHODS

Foot segmental motion data of 12 controls and 15 CAI participants during running with a heel strike pattern were collected through gait analysis. CAI participants performed running trials in three conditions: barefoot running, and running with high-dye and low-dye taping. Dependent variables were the range of motion (RoM) occurring at the different inter-segment angles as well as the cross-correlation coefficients between predetermined segments.

RESULTS

There were no significant RoM differences for barefoot running between CAI patients and controls. In taped conditions, the first two subphases only showed RoM changes at the midfoot without apparent RoM reduction compared to the barefoot CAI condition. In the last subphase there was limited RoM reduction at the mid- and rearfoot. Cross-correlation coefficients highlighted a tendency towards weaker joint coupling in the barefoot CAI condition compared to the controls. Joint coupling within the taped CAI conditions did not show optimization compared to the barefoot CAI condition.

CONCLUSIONS

RoM was not significantly changed for barefoot running between CAI patients and controls. In taped conditions, there was no distinct tendency towards lower mean RoM values due to the mechanical restraints of taping. Joint coupling in CAI patients was not optimized by taping.

The effects of Kinesiology Tape on static postural control in individuals with functional ankle instability

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if applying Kinesiology Tape (KT) on the unstable ankle may improve static postural control in individuals with Functional ankle instability.

DESIGN

A repeated measured study. Participants performed a series of static quiet bipedal and unipedal stances on a force platform. Measurements were taken at three different times: baseline or no tape, immediately and 24 h after the taping application with the tape remaining on the ankle.

SETTING

A university's psychomotor laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty young adults with Functional ankle instability aged from 18 to 30 years old.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Postural control was assessed by four measures derived from the centre of pressure data: Area of 95% Confidence ellipse, standard deviation of displacements, mean velocity and mean power frequency. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine any significant improvement in postural control over time due to KT.

RESULTS

Only minor changes in mean velocity and MPF in unipedal stances were observed immediately after KT application. However, the overall results indicated statistically insignificant improvements in postural control neither immediately after KT application nor after 24 h.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that the use of KT did not affect bipedal and unipedal stances of individuals with functional ankle instability.

Kinesio taping does not improve ankle functional or performance in people with or without ankle injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Kinesio taping technique, applied to ankles of healthy people as a preventive intervention and people with ankle injuries, is superior to sham or alternative interventions on ankle function.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, Amed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science, from inception to August 2020.

REVIEW METHODS

The terms "ankle" and "kinesio taping" were used in the search strategy. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (including crossover design) investigating Kinesio taping effects on ankle functional performance compared to any alternative or control/sham technique.

RESULTS

From 5,572 studies, 84 met the eligibility criteria which evaluated 2,684 people. Fifty-eight meta-analyses from 44 studies were performed (participants in meta-analyses ranging from 27 to 179). Fifty-one meta-analyses reported ineffectiveness of Kinesio taping: moderate evidence for star excursion balance test (anterior direction), jump distance, dorsiflexion range of motion, and plantar flexion torque for healthy people (effect size = 0.08-0.13); low to very-low evidence for balance, jump performance, range of motion, proprioception, muscle capacity and EMG for healthy people; balance for older people; and balance and jump performance for people with chronic instability. Seven meta-analyses reported results favoring Kinesio taping (effect size[95% CI]): low to very-low evidence for balance (stabilometry, ranging from 0.42[0.07-0.77] to 0.65[0.29-1.02]) and ankle inversion (0.84[0.28-1.40]) for healthy people; balance for older people (COP velocity, 0.90[0.01-1.78]); and balance for people with chronic instability (errors, 0.55[0.06-1.04]).

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence does not support or encourage the use of Kinesio taping applied to the ankle for improvements in functional performance, regardless the population.