Optimizing ankle performance when taped: Effects of kinesiology and athletic taping on proprioception in full weight-bearing stance.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) and athletic taping (AT) on ankle proprioception when tested in functional, full weight-bearing stance.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Twenty-four healthy university students participated. Proprioception was measured using the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA). The three testing conditions: no-taping, KT, AT, and foot tested were randomly assigned. Perceived comfort, support and proprioceptive performance under two taping conditions were recorded.


RESULTS
Proprioceptive discrimination scores with 95% CIs for no-taping, KT and AT were 0.81 (0.79-0.84), 0.81 (0.79-0.83), and 0.79 (0.77-0.81). Repeated measures ANOVA showed neither any significant difference associated with taping compared with no-taping (p=0.30), nor any difference between KT and AT (p=0.19). The group was then divided, according to their no-taping scores, into two sub-groups: with scores below the no-taping mean (n=13), and above the mean (n=11). ANOVA revealed a significant interaction (p=0.008) indicating that above-average no-taping performers proprioception scores were worse when taped, whereas below-average performers improved. For both KT and AT, only ratings of perceived comfort when taped were significantly associated with actual proprioceptive performance (both r>0.44, p≤0.03). Other perception ratings (support and performance) were significantly inter-correlated (both r>0.42, p<0.04), but neither was significantly correlated with actual performance (both p>0.31).


CONCLUSIONS
Taping of the foot and ankle may amplify sensory input in a way that enhances proprioception of poor performers but produces an input overload that impairs proprioception in those who originally performed well when no-taping. Screening of ankle proprioception may identify those who would benefit most from taping.
School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, China.
Zhi
Z
Long
School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, China. Electronic address: renwwang@163.com.
Renwei
R
Wang
School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, China; Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: Jia.Han@canberra.edu.au.
Jia
J
Han
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia.
Gordon
G
Waddington
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia.
Roger
R
Adams
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia.
Judith
J
Anson
D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D055052:Athletic Tape; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011434:Proprioception; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult
Ankle injury; Injury prevention; Movement control; Sport performance