Effects of the subtalar sling ankle taping technique on combined talocrural-subtalar joint motions.
BACKGROUND
The findings of research on the effectiveness of ankle taping for protection against ligament injury have been inconsistent, and the topic remains controversial. The precise orientation of the force vectors created by tension within the various tape strip components of an ankle taping procedure may be a critical factor influencing the degree of motion restraint that is provided. We hypothesized that the addition of the subtalar sling component to the widely recognized standard (Gibney) ankle taping procedure would enhance restraint of ankle motion. This was a controlled laboratory study, with fully repeated measures (subjects served as their own controls).


METHODS
An ankle arthrometer was used to quantify anteroposterior (AP) translation and frontal plane inversion-eversion (I-E) tilt of the talocrural-subtalar joints under untaped and taped conditions in normal subjects. A 15-minute exercise session was conducted to loosen the tape before measurement of its effect on motion restraint.


RESULTS
The ankle taping procedure that incorporated the subtalar sling provided significantly greater restriction of postexercise AP translation (p < 0.001, eta(2) = 0.63) and postexercise I-E tilt (p < 0.001, eta(2) = 0.66).


CONCLUSIONS
The subtalar sling ankle taping procedure provides greater restriction of motions associated with ankle instability than the more widely used Gibney procedure.
Wilkerson
Gary B
GB
Graduate Athletic Training Program, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Avenue, Department 6606, Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598, USA. Gary-Wilkerson@utc.edu
Kovaleski
John E
JE
Meyer
Mark
M
Stawiz
Christopher
C
D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D033023:Foot Joints / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000379:methods; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000502:physiology*