Effects of spiral taping on proprioception in subjects with unilateral functional 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.

Functional outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior talofibular ligament repair with loop suture versus free-edge suture

Background

Anatomic repair of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is used to manage chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). However, the optimal suture configuration used to repair the ATFL is not yet determined. It remains unclear whether suture configuration affects clinical outcomes in such patients.

Purpose

To compare the functional outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic ATFL repair using either a loop suture and or a free-edge suture configuration in CLAI patients.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 71 patients with CLAI who had undergone an all-inside arthroscopic ATFL repair procedure with either loop suture (n = 36) or free-edge suture (n = 35) from February 2016 to July 2018. Comparable pre-operatively, the Visual analogy score (VAS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society scoring system (AOFAS), Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS) scoring system, Anterior Talar Translation (ATT) and Active Joint Position Sense (AJPS) were used to evaluate postoperative ankle function.

Results

There were no postoperative wound complications, implant reactions, or neurological or vascular injuries. Postoperative hospitalization, VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, AJPS and the time of return to sport were similar between the loop suture group and free-edge suture group. Requiring a longer procedure time, patients with loop suture configuration achieved better ATT.

Conclusion

All-inside arthroscopic ATFL repair procedure for CLAI treatment provides better ATT and comparable functional outcomes when a loop suture configuration is used instead of a free-edge suture configuration. A statistical difference in ATT was observed. Given the relatively short follow-up, it is questionable whether this will have any clinical relevance.

Limited medial osteochondral lesions of the talus associated with chronic ankle instability do not impact the results of endoscopic modified Broström ligament repair

Background

The arthroscopic modified Broström procedure, with repair of the anterior talofibular ligament and extensor retinaculum, produces good functional outcomes in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). CLAI can be associated with osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). It remains unclear whether associated limited OLTs affect clinical outcomes in such patients.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 92 CLAI patients with and without OLTs undergoing an all-inside arthroscopic modified Broström procedure from June 2016 to May 2019. The patients were divided into non-lesion group (n = 32) and lesion group (n = 60) according to whether CLAI was associated or not with OLTs. All the osteochondral lesions less than 15 mm in diameter were managed with bone marrow stimulation techniques (arthroscopic microfracture) at the time of the arthroscopic modified Broström procedure. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Karlsson Ankle Function Score (KAFS), Anterior Talar Translation (ATT), Active Joint Position Sense (AJPS), and the rate of return to sports were compared in both groups.

Results

Increase in all the functional scores (VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, and AJPS) in both groups was, respectively, recorded 1 year and 2 years after surgery. At the 1-year and 2-year follow-up, there was no significant difference in the VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, and AJPS scores between the non-lesion and lesion groups.

Conclusion

In patients with CLAI who underwent an arthroscopic modified Broström procedure, the presence of limited OLTs (less than 15 mm in diameter), which required arthroscopic microfracture, did not exert any influence on outcome.

Level of Evidence

Level III, a retrospective comparative study.

Do external supports influence proprioception in patients with chronic ankle instability? A systematic review and meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience recurring sprains and impaired proprioception, and the effect of external support in the proprioception of injured ankles is still inconsistent in existing studies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether external support could enhance the proprioception of injured ankles in patients with CAI.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eight studies from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and CINAHL were finally included after applying the exclusion criteria. Meta-analyses revealed a significantly higher joint position sense (JPS) on inversion with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 1.25° and plantar flexion (WMD = 1.74°) and lower kinesthesia in eversion (WMD = -0.70°) with the application of external support in the injured ankles of patients with CAI.

CONCLUSION

Applying external support has statistically significant negative effects on kinesthesia and a positive effect on the active JPS in the injured ankles of patients with CAI. However, this study did not support the restoration of proprioception deficits as a mechanism of external support in preventing reinjuries, due to its potentially negative effect on kinesthesia, clinically small changes in proprioception, and poor methodological quality of existing studies.

All-inside arthroscopic modified Broström-Gould procedure for chronic lateral ankle instability with and without anterior talofibular ligament remnant repair produced similar functional results

PURPOSE

The Broström-Gould procedure, with the repair of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) combined with the transfer of the extensor retinaculum, is considered the gold standard procedure for the management of chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). Lateral ligament reconstruction is considered if the ATFL remnant quality is poor or the ATFL has been damaged beyond the ability to suture it. It remains unclear whether not repairing the ATFL remnant produces comparable functional outcomes to the classical Broström-Gould procedure.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 84 patients with CLAI undergoing either repair or non-repair of the ATFL remnant using an all-inside arthroscopic Broström-Gould procedure from 2015 to 2018. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), Anterior Talar Translation (ATT), Active Joint Position Sense (AJPS), and the rate of return to sports were compared in both groups.

RESULTS

All the functional scores (VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, AJPS) significantly improved in both groups at 1 and 2 years after surgery. At all the follow-up time points, the VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, AJPS, and the rate of return to sport scores were comparable between the repair and non-repair group.

CONCLUSION

There are no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes between ATFL remnant repair and non-repair for the management of CLAI using the all-inside arthroscopic Broström-Gould procedure. From the clinical viewpoint, the present study shows that the potential differences in clinical outcomes between ATFL remnant repair and non-repair are likely not relevant when performing an all-inside arthroscopic Broström-Gould procedure for CLAI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Functional Comparison of Horizontal Mattress Suture Versus Free-Edge Suture in the All-Inside Arthroscopic Broström-Gould Procedure for Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability

Objective

To compare the clinical outcomes of horizontal mattress suture vs free‐edge suture in the all‐inside arthroscopic Broström–Gould procedure.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 68 chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) patients who underwent either a horizontal mattress suture or a free‐edge suture all‐inside arthroscopic Broström–Gould procedure from January 2014 to January 2017. Patients were divided into two groups based on the suture fashion during the all‐inside arthroscopic Broström–Gould procedure. In the horizontal mattress suture group (n = 31), anchor sutures were used to suture the ATFL, capsule, and inferior extensor retinaculum in horizontal mattress suture fashion. In the free‐edge suture group (n = 37), anchor sutures were used to suture the ATFL, capsule, and inferior extensor retinaculum in free‐edge suture fashion. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), Anterior Talar Translation (ATT), the rate of return to sports, and ankle proprioceptive recovery were compared in both groups.

Results

The operative times and duration of hospitalization between the two groups were comparable (all P > 0.05). The VAS, AOFAS, ATT, the rate of return to sports, and ankle proprioceptive recovery were comparable between the horizontal mattress suture and free‐edge suture groups at 1 and 2 years after surgery. Patients of the free‐edge suture group achieved better KAFS 1 and 2 years after the surgery compared with those of the horizontal mattress suture group. In both groups, incisions were healed by first intention, and complications such as infection, implant reactions, tendon injury, and nervous or vascular injuries were not observed. The ankle proprioceptive recovery in horizontal mattress suture and free‐edge suture groups showed no significant differences at 1 and 2 years after surgery. The mean time of the return to full activity for patients in the horizontal mattress suture group was 10.38 ± 2.02 (range 8 to 12) weeks vs 8.63 ± 2.31 (range 8 to 12) weeks for those in the free‐edge suture group (P = 0.001, power = 0.907). The exercise participation rates were comparable between groups (P > 0.05). At the 2‐year follow‐up, all patients regained normal activities and ankle stability, and no recurrence of CLAI or revision surgery was recorded.

Conclusion

All‐inside arthroscopic Broström–Gould surgery for the treatment of CLAI ensures a better functional effect (KAFS) and better recovery time when free‐edge suture is used instead of horizontal mattress suture.

Arthroscopic Remnant-Preserving Anterior Talofibular Ligament Reconstruction does not Improve Mid-term Function in Chronic Ankle Instability

BACKGROUND

Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) reconstruction is routinely undertaken to manage chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). This study evaluated the effects on clinical outcome of preserving or not preserving the ATFL remnant when reconstructing the ATFL.

METHODS

From January 2015 to July 2017, 53 CLAI patients with ATFL injury were randomized to undergo either a remnant-preserving (preservation of ATFL) or a non-preserving (no preservation of ATFL) anatomic reconstruction of the ATFL using an ipsilateral free semitendinosus tendon autograft. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), Anterior Talar Translation (ATT), and ankle proprioceptive recovery in both groups were compared.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up for at least 2 years, VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT and ankle proprioception between two the groups were not statistically significant different.

CONCLUSION

There are no differences at 2.5 years in postoperative ankle function, stability and proprioceptive recovery when an ipsilateral free semitendinosus tendon autograft is used to manage CLAI regardless of preservation of the remnant ATFL.

[The application of kinesiotaping for the rehabilitation of the post-stroke patients]

This review of the scientific literature was designed to consider the prospects for the application of kinesiotaping for the rehabilitation of the post-stroke patients. The relevance of the work arises from the absence of a systemic analysis of the large number of investigations that have been carried out during the past two years. The objective of the present review article was to evaluate the influence of kinesiotaping on the health status of the post-stroke patients and the course of their rehabilitative treatment based on the results of analysis of the scientific reports published during the period from 2015 to 2017. The analysis has demonstrated that the method under consideration makes it possible to effectively reduce spasticity, increase the paretic limb power, improve the static and dynamic balance, and alleviate the pain syndrome by virtue of the ability to improve the articulation proprioception and to regulate the muscle tone. Such effects are known to promote the reduction of muscle tone asymmetry in the patients suffering from hemiparesis and articulation instability which in its turn improves the patients' gait and walking ability, hightens their living standards, and allows to tolerate enhanced physical exertion. Kinesiotaping actually improves the locomotor function in the post-stroke patients Taken together, the advantages of the approach in question give reason to recommend kinesiotaping for the wide application for the combined rehabilitative treatment of the post-stroke patients.

Possibilities of kinesio taping to prevent injuries of professional dancers

A literature review of the application of kinesio taping in the prevention of professional dancers' injuries indicated frequent dance-related and overuse injuries and a lack of organized information about this issue. This study aimed to assess the impact of kinesio taping on the musculoskeletal system of dancers, based on scientific research data from 2015-2017. The analysis revealed that kinesio taping can effectively reduce muscle spasms, rebuild muscle strength of the injured extremity, improve static and dynamic balance and ease pain, due to its ability to improve proprioception of joints and regulate muscle tone. These effects reduce muscle imbalance and joint instability, thus increasing treatment efficacy and shortening the physical load limitation. Kinesio taping significantly reduces the risk of overuse syndromes and dance-related injuries during dance training and strenuous exercises of people with chronic musculoskeletal diseases. Therefore, kinesio taping has broad utility in primary and secondary prevention of dance-related injuries.