Elsevier

Physical Therapy in Sport

Volume 23, January 2017, Pages 162-167
Physical Therapy in Sport

The effect of ankle taping on functional performance in participants with functional ankle instability

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.03.005Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Taping is widely used after ankle sprain to prevent re-injury.

  • It is possible that use of rigid ankle tape reduces any apprehension about re-injury without worsening performance.

  • Taping may therefore benefit rehabilitation and allow earlier return to active sport.

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effect of rigid ankle tape on functional performance, self-efficacy and perceived stability, confidence and reassurance during functional tasks in participants with functional ankle instability.

Design

Clinical measurement, crossover design.

Methods

Participants (n = 25) with functional ankle instability (Cumberland Ankle Instability Score < 25) were recruited from university students and sporting clubs. Participants performed five functional tests with and without the ankle taped. The tests were: figure-8 hopping test, hopping obstacle course, star excursion balance test (SEBT), single-leg stance and stair descent test. Secondary outcome measures were self-efficacy and perception measures.

Results

Rigid tape significantly decreased the stair descent time by 4% (p = 0.014), but had no effect on performance in the other tests. Self-efficacy increased significantly (p < 0.001). Perceived stability, confidence and reassurance also increased with the ankle taped (p < 0.05) during the stair and two hopping tasks, but not during the SEBT or single-leg stance test.

Conclusion

Although taping the ankle did not affect performance, except to improve stair descent, it increased self-efficacy and perceived confidence in dynamic tasks. These findings suggest that taping may reduce apprehension without affecting functional performance in those with functional ankle instability and permit continued physical activity or sport participation.

Introduction

Taping is routinely used after ankle sprain, to support the joint and prevent re-injury (Handoll, Rowe, Quinn, & de Bie, 2006). But despite its widespread use during functional and sporting activities, the effect of taping on functional performance in participants after ankle sprain has received little attention. Yet this knowledge is important because it has been suggested that the constriction to movement conferred by rigid tape may disadvantage performance (Cordova, 2002). Most research has focussed on healthy participants and with inconsistent findings (Abian-Vicen, Alegre, Fernandez-Rodriguez, & Aguado, 2009; Broglio, Monk, Sopiarz, & Cooper, 2009; Burks, Bean, Marcus, & Barker, 1991; Jerosch et al., 1997, MacKean et al., 1995; Meana et al., 2007, Paris, 1992, Verbrugge, 1996); speed is either unaffected (MacKean et al., 1995, Paris, 1992, Verbrugge, 1996) or decreased (Burks et al., 1991) with tape; and positive (Jerosch et al., 1997), negative (Burks et al., 1991) or no effects have been found with tape during jump tests (Paris, 1992, Verbrugge, 1996). Agility (Jerosch et al., 1997, Paris, 1992, Verbrugge, 1996) and balance tests (Abian-Vicen et al., 2009, Broglio et al., 2009, Paris, 1992) were unaffected by tape application.

In those studies investigating functional performance outcomes in participants with ankle instability, most have used ankle braces (Friden et al., 1989, Gribble et al., 2010, Gross et al., 1997, Hals et al., 2000, Jerosch et al., 1997; Rosenbaum et al., 2005, Wiley and Nigg, 1996). Of these, most found that the brace did not reduce functional performance as tested by dynamic stability, figure-8 run time, vertical jump height, sprint time and agility course time (Gribble et al., 2010, Gross et al., 1997, Rosenbaum et al., 2005, Wiley and Nigg, 1996). In contrast, three studies found that wearing a brace improved single-leg balance, jumping tests and shuttle run time (Friden et al., 1989, Hals et al., 2000, Jerosch et al., 1997). When using tape, Jerosch et al. (1997) found improved performance in jump and side-step tests, Bicici, Karatas, and Baltaci (2012) found tape to improve performance in a hopping test and single limb hurdle test, whereas Delahunt, McGrath, Doran, and Coughlan (2010) and Bicici et al. (2012) found no improvement in postural stability, as measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test, with ankle taping.

One element that may contribute to any effect taping might have on performance for those with a history of ankle sprain or functional instability, is the perception of confidence and reassurance that may come with the ankle being taped. Previously, Sawkins, Refshauge, Kilbreath, and Raymond (2007) found that participants perceived ankle taping, even a small strip of “placebo” tape, to be reassuring and to afford some confidence in their performance of challenging tasks. Therefore it is possible that by imparting some confidence, ankle taping might reduce apprehension and improve performance.

Considering the relative lack of information on the effect of rigid tape on functional performance in ankle instability, and the potential role that increased confidence and reassurance might play, there were two aims for this study. The primary aim was to investigate the effect of rigid tape on functional performance in participants with functional ankle instability. The secondary aim was to examine the effect of rigid tape on self-efficacy and perceived stability, confidence and reassurance during functional tasks in participants with functional ankle instability. We hypothesised that compared with no tape, taping the ankle would improve functional performance and increase self-efficacy and perceptions of stability, confidence and reassurance. Within this manuscript, where the term tape or taping is used in isolation, the authors are referring to rigid tape unless otherwise stated.

Section snippets

Methods

Volunteers with functional ankle instability following ankle inversion sprain were recruited from among students and staff of the university and from metropolitan sporting clubs. To be included in the study, participants had to have sustained at least one ankle sprain from a sudden inversion trauma, at least one month prior, which resulted in pain and swelling over the lateral ligament and limping, and have at least moderate functional ankle instability, defined as a score of <25 on the

Results

Twenty-five participants (13 males and 12 females, 22.4 ± 4.8 years, 173 ± 9 cm, 70 ± 14 kg) were recruited for this study. All participants were active in a sport. Eight participants had a history of unilateral sprain and 17 had a history of bilateral sprain. All participants had sprained one ankle at least twice. The average number of sprains on the tested ankle was 6.2 ± 3.3.

Application of tape to the ankle did not affect performance in any of the functional tests except for the stair

Discussion

The application of ankle tape did not impair performance of participants with functional ankle instability in the activities we tested. In fact, stair descent times decreased with the application of tape, demonstrating an improvement in performance when the ankle was supported. This finding is central to rehabilitation, particularly for athletes, because the use of taping is so widespread, and there is some belief among the athletic community that taping impairs performance of lower extremity

Conflict of interest

None declared.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.

Funding

None declared.

References (39)

  • S. Bicici et al.

    Effect of athletic taping and kinesiotaping on measurements of functional performance in basketball players with chronic inversion ankle sprains

    International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy

    (2012)
  • R.T. Burks et al.

    Analysis of athletic performance with prophylactic ankle devices

    American Journal of Sports Medicine

    (1991)
  • R.B. Chambers et al.

    Surgical reconstruction for calcaneonavicular coalition. Evaluation of function and gait

    Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, American Volume

    (1982)
  • M.L. Cordova

    Efficacy of prophylactic ankle support: an experimental perspective

    Journal of Athletic Training

    (2002)
  • M.L. Cordova et al.

    Influence of ankle support on joint range of motion before and after exercise: a meta-analysis

    Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy

    (2000)
  • C.L. Docherty et al.

    Functional-performance deficits in volunteers with functional ankle instability

    Journal of Athletic Training

    (2005)
  • T. Friden et al.

    A stabilometric technique for evaluation of lower limb instabilities

    American Journal of Sports Medicine

    (1989)
  • M.T. Gross et al.

    Effect of ankle orthoses on functional performance for individuals with recurrent lateral ankle sprains

    Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy

    (1997)
  • T.M. Hals et al.

    Effect of a semi-rigid ankle stabilizer on performance in persons with functional ankle instability

    Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy

    (2000)
  • Cited by (0)

    1

    Present address: The Sports Clinic, Cnr Western Ave & Physics Road, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

    View full text