The influence of Mulligan ankle taping during balance performance in subjects with unilateral chronic ankle instability

Abstract 

Objective

: To determine whether Mulligan ankle tape influenced the performance in subjects with unilateral chronic ankle instability (CAI) during static balance; postural sway recovery patterns after hopping and dynamic tracking balance tasks.

Design

: A cross-sectional, within-subjects experimental study design between 4 ankle conditions (taped; untaped: injured and uninjured).

Participants

: 20 volunteer recreational athletes with unilateral CAI were recruited. Means and standard deviations highlighted the athletes' characteristics: age =23±1 years; height=173.1±2.4cm; weight=69.3±3kg; Functional Ankle Disability Index (FADI)=93.5±5.1% and FADI Sport=84.2±9.4%.

Interventions

: Mulligan ankle taping.

Main Outcome Measurements

: Static balance (10s); postural sway recovery patterns after a 30s functional hop test (immediately, 30 and 60s); dynamic tracking balance tasks (wandering, target overshoot and reaction-time).

Results

: Between the four conditions, static balance showed no significant differences (p=0.792); significant changes occurred in postural sway over time (p<0.001); no significant changes were reported for the dynamic tracking tasks. Wandering was highly correlated with reaction-time and overshooting (p<0.01).

Conclusion

: Under resting and fatigued conditions, Mulligan ankle taping did not impact on the neuromuscular control during static and dynamic balance in subjects with healthy and unstable ankles.

Keywords: Unilateral chronic ankle instability, Balance tasks, Postural sway, Mulligan tape