Kinesiology tape length and ankle inversion proprioception at step-down landing in individuals with chronic ankle instability

Influence of taping on joint proprioception: a systematic review with between and within group meta-analysis

Taping is increasingly used to manage proprioceptive deficits, but existing reviews on its impact have shortcomings. To accurately assess the effects of taping, a separate meta-analyses for different population groups and tape types is needed. Therefore, both between- and within-group meta-analyses are needed to evaluate the influence of taping on proprioception. According to PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was conducted across seven databases (Web of Science, PEDro, Pubmed, EBSCO, Scopus, ERIC, SportDiscus, Psychinfo) and one register (CENTRAL) using the keywords "tape" and "proprioception". Out of 1372 records, 91 studies, involving 2718 individuals, met the inclusion criteria outlined in the systematic review. The meta-analyses revealed a significant between and within-group reduction in repositioning errors with taping compared to no tape (Hedge's g: -0.39, p < 0.001) and placebo taping (Hedge's g: -1.20, p < 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses further confirmed the reliability of the overall between and within-group analyses. The between-group results further demonstrated that both elastic tape and rigid tape had similar efficacy to improve repositioning errors in both healthy and fatigued populations. Additional analyses on the threshold to detection of passive motion and active movement extent discrimination apparatus revealed no significant influence of taping. In conclusion, the findings highlight the potential of taping to enhance joint repositioning accuracy compared to no tape or placebo taping. Further research needs to uncover underlying mechanisms and refine the application of taping for diverse populations with proprioceptive deficits.

Evaluating the effects of two different kinesiology taping techniques on shoulder range of motion and proprioception in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a common group of inherited connective tissue disorders with a prevalence as high as 0.75%-2% of the population. Physical manifestations include pain and decreased proprioception, especially in more mobile joints, such as the shoulder. The kinesiology tape (K-Tape) is often used to treat patients with shoulder dysfunction. The effectiveness of the K-Tape is uncertain, and there is a lack of studies specifically studying the K-Tape in an EDS population.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the short-term effects of two different K-Tape procedures on shoulder active joint reposition (AJR) and active range of motion (AROM) in patients with hypermobile EDS (hEDS) and shoulder pain.

Methods

All participants were recruited from the EDS support groups and presented with shoulder pain. Baseline demographic information was obtained for each participant, after which AROM and AJR were assessed. The participants were randomized to receive one of two K-Tape procedures. Testing was repeated immediately post-taping and 48 h post-taping.

Results

Significant improvements in shoulder external (F = 10.917, p < 0.001) and internal (F = 11.736, p < 0.001) rotations were seen from baseline to immediately post-taping and baseline to 48 h post-taping in the experimental K-Tape group. There were no significant differences in the shoulder rotation in the control K-Tape group and no significant differences in either group for shoulder flexion or AJR at any time point (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

K-Tape may offer short-term improvements in shoulder rotation AROM in patients with hEDS and shoulder pain.

Voluntary postural sway control and mobility in adults with low back pain

Introduction

Low back pain (LBP) is associated with altered somatosensory perception, which is involved in both involuntary and voluntary control of posture. Currently, there is a lack of methods and tools for assessing somatosensory acuity in patients with LBP. The purpose of this study was (1) to assess the reliability of the sway discrimination apparatus (SwayDA) (2) to evaluate the differences in somatosensory acuity between patients with LBP and pain-free individuals, and (3) to examine relationships between somatosensory acuity, severity of LBP, and mobility in patients with LBP.

Methods

Twenty participants (10 patients with LBP and 10 matched asymptomatic controls) were recruited in a test-retest reliability test. Another 56 participants were recruited for this study with 28 individuals presenting with LBP and a further twenty-eight being asymptomatic. The SwayDA was custom-built to measure somatosensory perception during voluntary anterior-posterior (SwayDA-AP), medial-lateral to the dominant side (SwayDA-ML-D), and non-dominant side (SwayDA-ML-ND) postural sway control. Participants also completed mobility tests, including 10 times and 1-min sit-to-stand tests (10-STS, 1 m-STS). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated to quantify somatosensory acuity in discriminating different voluntary postural sway extents.

Results

The ICC (2.1) for the SwayDA-AP, SwayDA-ML-D, and SwayDA-ML-ND were 0.741, 0.717, and 0.805 with MDC95 0.071, 0.043, and 0.050. Patients with LBP demonstrated significantly lower SwayDA scores (tSwayDA-AP = -2.142, p = 0.037; tSwayDA-ML-D = -2.266, p = 0.027) than asymptomatic controls. The AUC values of the SwayDA-AP test were significantly correlated with ODI (rSwayDA-AP-ODI = -0.391, p = 0.039). Performances on the 1 m-STS and the 10-STS were significantly correlated with the AUC scores from all the SwayDA tests (-0.513 ≤ r ≤ 0.441, all p < 0.05).

Discussion

The SwayDA tests evaluated showed acceptable reliability in assessing somatosensory acuity during voluntary postural sway. Somatosensory acuity was diminished in patients with LBP compared to asymptomatic controls. In patients with LBP, lower somatosensory acuity was associated with increased LBP-related disability. Future research could focus on investigating the factors contributing to the decreased somatosensory perception and mobility in individuals with LBP.

Influence of taping on force sense accuracy: a systematic review with between and within group meta-analysis

Taping is a common technique used to address proprioceptive deficits in both healthy and patient population groups. Although there is increasing interest in taping to address proprioceptive deficits, little is known about its effects on the kinetic aspects of proprioception as measured by force sense accuracy. To address this gap in the literature, the present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of taping on force sense accuracy. A search for relevant literature was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across seven databases and one register. Eleven studies with 279 participants were included in the review out of 7362 records. In the between-group analyses, we found a significant improvement in absolute (p < 0.01) and relative (p = 0.01) force sense accuracy with taping compared to no comparator. Likewise, a significant improvement in absolute (p = 0.01) force sense accuracy was also observed with taping compared to placebo tape. In the within group analysis, this reduction in the absolute (p = 0.11) force sense accuracy was not significant. Additional exploratory subgroup analyses revealed between group improvement in force sense accuracy in both healthy individuals and individuals affected by medial epicondylitis. The findings of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies and a lack of blinded randomized controlled trials, which may impact the generalizability of the results. More high-quality research is needed to confirm the overall effect of taping on force sense accuracy.

Ankle proprioception in table tennis players: Expertise and sport-specific dual task effects

OBJECTIVES

To compare ankle proprioception between professional adolescent table tennis players at national and regional levels and age-matched non-athletes, and, in a nominally upper-limb sport, to explore the relationships between single- and dual-task ankle proprioception, years of training and sport-specific performance.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

METHODS

Fifty-five participants (29 professional adolescent table tennis players and 26 non-athletic peers) volunteered. Ankle proprioception was first assessed using the active movement extent discrimination apparatus (AMEDA-single) for all; yet only the players were then re-assessed while executing a secondary ball-hitting task (AMEDA-dual). The mean Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve was calculated as the proprioceptive score, and years of training and hitting rate were recorded.

RESULTS

National-level players had significantly better ankle proprioception as shown by higher AMEDA-single scores than the other groups (all p < 0.05). Ankle proprioceptive performance was significantly impaired while ball-hitting (F1,28 = 58.89, p ≤ 0.001, ηp2 = 0.69). National-level players outperformed the regional-level significantly on the AMEDA-dual task (F1,27 = 21.4, p ≤ 0.001, ηp2 = 0.44). Further, ankle proprioceptive performance was related to expertise, in that both AMEDA-single and AMEDA-dual proprioceptive scores were correlated with years of training and ball-hitting rate (r from 0.40 to 0.54, all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Ankle proprioception is a promising measure that may be used to identify different ability levels among adolescent table tennis players. Superior ankle proprioception may arise from rigorous training and contribute to stroke accuracy. Dual-task proprioceptive assessment suggests how elite table tennis players perform differently from lower-ranked players in complex and changeable sports circumstances.

Acute effects of kinesiology tape on dynamic balance control in chronic ankle instability: An exploratory study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the acute effect of the four-strip kinesiology taping (KT) technique on dynamic balance control in the Y Balance Test (YBT), and to explore the relationship between the YBT and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) scores in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI).

METHODS

16 CAI and 16 non-CAI participants were involved. Two groups completed the YBT in the no-tape barefoot and the KT condition at random. The CAIT was completed on the first day. Bonferroni test was used to analyze YBT scores in three directions for post hoc analysis. Spearman's correlation was used to analyze the relationship between YBT scores in the no-tape barefoot condition and CAIT scores.

RESULTS

This KT application significantly improved YBT performance. The YBT scores in the anterior direction (YBT-A), posteromedial direction (YBT-PM), and posterolateral direction (YBT-PL) for the CAI group were significantly improved after taping. However, in the non-CAI group, only YBT-PM score was significantly improved after taping. Three YBT scores were all moderately correlated with the CAIT score.

CONCLUSION

This KT technique can immediately improve dynamic balance in CAI patients. Dynamic balance performance was moderately related to the degree of self-perceived instability in individuals with and without CAI.

Effect of kinesio taping intervention on the muscle strength and balance of college basketball players with functional ankle instability

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute Kinesio Taping (KT) intervention on the muscle strength and balance ability of college basketball players with functional ankle instability (FAI).

Methods: Thirty college basketball players with FAI were treated with acute KT to test the changes in their muscle strength and balance ability.

Results: After acute KT intervention, the ankle dorsiflexion moment and the ankle plantar flexion moment increased by 34% and 19.9%, respectively. The stable plane test with the subjects’ eyes open decreased by 1%, whereas that with the subjects’ eyes closed decreased by 1.1%. The swaying environment test with the subjects’ eyes open increased by 2.4%. The swaying plane test with the subjects’ eyes open increased by 5.1%, whereas that with the subjects’ eyes closed increased by 16.2%. The swaying environment test with the subjects’ eyes open plus the use of a plane increased by 12.1%.

Conclusion: KT can increase the isokinetic strength of the ankle dorsum muscle and plantar flexion of college basketball players with FAI. The effect of KT in the static balance test was weaker than that in the dynamic balance test. The findings indicate that KT can significantly improve the balance ability of college basketball players with FAI during dynamic sports.

Reliability and validity of the ankle inversion discrimination apparatus during walking in individuals with chronic ankle instability

Purpose: 1) to explore the test-retest reliability of a new device for measuring ankle inversion proprioception during walking, i.e., the Ankle Inversion Discrimination Apparatus-Walking (AIDAW) in individuals with or without Chronic Ankle instability (CAI); 2) to assess its discriminant validity in differentiating individuals with or without CAI; 3) to investigate its convergent validity by examining its association with Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and the Y Balance Test (YBT). Methods: For test-retest reliability, 15 participants with CAI and 15 non-CAI healthy controls were recruited. Participants completed the AIDAW test twice with a 7-day interval. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was obtained as the AIDAW score. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and MDC₉₀ were calculated. For the validity study, another 20 individuals with CAI and 20 non-CAI healthy controls were involved. The AIDAW scores were analyzed by an independent samples t-test, and the optimal cutoff value of AIDAW scores to best distinguish individuals with CAI was calculated by Youden's index. Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between AIDAW proprioceptive scores and the CAIT and final YBT scores. Results: For test-retest reliability, the ICC values for the CAI, non-CAI, and the whole group were 0.755, 0.757, and 0.761 respectively. The MDC₉₀ of the CAI and non-CAI group was 0.04 and 0.05. Regarding discriminant validity, the AIDAW proprioceptive discrimination scores in the CAI group were significantly lower than those in the non-CAI group (p = 0.003); and the cutoff score for distinguishing CAI from the non-CAI participants was 0.759. For convergent validity, the AIDAW scores were significantly correlated with the functional balance YBT final scores (p = 0.001) and the CAIT scores (p = 0.009). Conclusion: The AIDAW is a reliable and valid device for evaluating ankle inversion proprioception during walking in individuals with and without CAI. AIDAW can be used as a clinical assessment tool to discriminate CAI from non-CAI individuals and to monitor effects of rehabilitation. The AIDAW proprioceptive discrimination scores were significantly and positively correlated with YBT and CAIT scores.

Ankle Inversion Proprioception Impairment in Persons with Chronic Ankle Instability Is Task-Specific

While investigators have often compared ankle proprioception between groups with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI), findings have been inconsistent. Possibly this is because ankle proprioceptive impairment in this population is task-specific. Thus, we aimed to compare ankle inversion proprioception in individuals with and without CAI in two task conditions: (i) when standing (not challenging) and (ii) when on a step-down landing (minimally-challenging). Ankle inversion proprioception was measured in both conditions for 38 recreational sport player volunteers with CAI (n = 19) and without CAI (n = 19). We used the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA) for the standing condition and the Ankle Inversion Discrimination Apparatus-Landing (AIDAL) for step-down landing. From analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, CAI and non-CAI participants performed equally well on the AMEDA when standing; but the CAI group performed significantly worse than the non-CAI group on the AIDAL step-down landing task (p = 0.03). Within the non-CAI group, the AIDAL proprioceptive scores, as area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), were significantly higher than their AMEDA AUC scores (p = 0.03), while there was no significant difference between AIDAL and AMEDA AUC scores in the CAI group. Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool CAIT scores were significantly correlated with AIDAL scores (Spearman's rho = 0.391, p = 0.015), but not with the AMEDA scores; and there was no significant correlation between the AIDAL and AMEDA scores. Thus, an ankle inversion proprioceptive deficit was evident for persons with CAI on the step-down AIDAL, and in a dose-response way, but not evident on the standing AMEDA, suggesting that ankle proprioceptive impairment is task-specific. Selected proprioceptive tests must present some minimal degree of challenge to the ankle joint in a functional task in order to differentiate CAI from non-CAI participants.

Acute effect of kinesio tape on postural control in individuals with functional ankle instability following ankle muscle fatigue

Background: Kinesio taping (KT) is one of the therapeutic interventions in sports medicine practice. The study aims to assess the acute effect of different KT methods on postural control in individuals with functional ankle instability (FAI) after ankle muscle fatigue.

Methods: Twenty-eight participants with FAI were recruited to complete maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and proprioception of ankle using isokinetic dynamometer, dynamic postural control using Y-balance test and static postural control using a force platform after a fatigue protocol in four taping conditions: facilitatory KT (FKT), ankle balance taping (ABT), sham taping (ST) and no taping (NT).

Results: No significant difference was observed for the data MVIC and proprioception after ankle muscle fatigue amongst the four taping treatments. A significant difference in Y-Balance Test was observed amongst the four taping treatments at posterolateral direction (p < 0.001) and posteromedial direction (p < 0.001), suggesting that KT may significantly improve dynamic postural control following ankle muscle fatigue. For Center of pressure (COP) measurements, the mediolateral COP sway range of NT was significantly larger than that of FKT (p = 0.003) and ST (p < 0.001), suggesting that the placebo effect of KT was inevitable.

Conclusion: The effect of KT seems increased dynamic postural control in individuals with FAI after ankle muscle fatigue, and this effect is not strongly related to the taping methods. By preventing fatigue-related impairments of postural control, KT may help reduce the risk of injury in individuals with FAI.

Effect of Kinesiology Tape on Muscle Activation of Lower Extremity and Ankle Kinesthesia in Individuals With Unilateral Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of kinesiology tape (KT) on lower limb muscle activation during computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) tasks and ankle kinesthesia in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Methods: Thirty-five men with CAI participated in this study. The experimental procedure followed a repeated measures design. Muscle activation of lower extremity and ankle kinesthesia of participants were measured using four taping treatments, namely, KT, athletic tape (AT), sham tape (ST), and no tape (NT) in a randomized order. Muscle activation was assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG) synchronized with CDP tests from seven lower extremity muscles of the unstable limb. Ankle kinesthesia was measured by using a threshold to detect the passive motion direction of the unstable ankle. Parameters were analyzed by using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA and followed by pairwise comparisons with a Bonferroni correction. Results: No significant difference was observed among different taping treatments for the majority of parameters during CDP. Except for condition 4 with open eyes, sway-referenced surface, and fixed surround in the sensory organization test (SOT), gastrocnemius medialis root mean square (RMS) was 28.19% lower in AT compared with NT (p = 0.021, 95% CI = 0.002-0.039), while gastrocnemius lateralis RMS was 20.25% lower in AT compared with KT (p = 0.038, 95% CI = 0.000-0.021). In forward-small sudden translation from motor control test (MCT), for peroneal longus (PL), RMS was 24.04% lower in KT compared with ST (p = 0.036, 95% CI = 0.000-0.018). In toes-down sudden rotation from adaption test (ADT), for PL, RMS was 23.41% lower in AT compared with ST (p = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.002-0.027). In addition, no significant difference was observed for a threshold to the detection of passive motion direction among different taping treatments. Conclusion: This study indicated that KT had minimal effect on the muscle activation of the unstable lower limb during static stance, self-initiated, and externally triggered perturbation tasks from CDP and ankle kinesthesia among individuals with CAI, suggesting that the benefit of KT was too small to be clinically worthwhile during application for CAI.