title: Arch-Taping Techniques for Altering Navicular Height and Plantar Pressures During Activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arch tapings have been used to support the arch by increasing navicular height. Few researchers have studied navicular height and plantar pressures after physical activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if taping techniques effectively support the arch during exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletic training research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five individuals (13 men, 12 women; age = 20.0 ± 1.0 years, height = 172.3 ± 6.6 cm, mass = 70.1 ± 10.2 kg) with a navicular drop of more than 8 mm (12.9 ± 3.3 mm) volunteered.
  
  
  METHODS
  All individuals participated in 3 days of testing, with 1 day for each tape condition: no tape, low dye, and navicular sling. On each testing day, navicular height and plantar pressures were measured at 5 intervals: baseline; posttape; and after 5, 10, and 15 minutes of running. The order of tape condition was counterbalanced.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dependent variables were navicular height in millimeters and plantar pressures in kilopascals. Plantar pressures were divided into 5 regions: medial forefoot, lateral forefoot, lateral midfoot, lateral rearfoot, and medial rearfoot. Separate repeated-measures analyses of variance were conducted for each dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Navicular height was higher immediately after application of the navicular-sling condition (P = .004) but was reduced after 5 minutes of treadmill running (P = .12). We observed no differences from baseline to posttape for navicular height for the low-dye (P = .30) and no-tape conditions (P = .25). Both the low-dye and navicular-sling conditions increased plantar pressures in the lateral midfoot region compared with the no-tape condition. The low-dye condition created decreased pressure in the medial and lateral forefoot regions compared with the no-tape condition. All changes were identified immediately after application and were maintained during running. No changes were noted in plantar pressures for the no-tape condition (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both taping techniques effectively changed plantar pressures in the lateral midfoot, and these changes were sustained throughout the 15 minutes of exercise.
authors.affiliation: Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, KY.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.affiliation: University of Toledo, OH.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington.
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Docherty
mesh_terms: D055052:Athletic Tape; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011312:Pressure; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: barefoot; low-dye taping; navicular-sling taping; running