Effects of athletic taping of the fetlock on distal limb mechanics

Athletic taping is used frequently by human athletes to stabilise, maintain or strengthen soft tissue structures, but empirical evidence supporting any changes in equine kinematics is lacking.

To assess the effects of athletic taping of the fetlock applied by an experienced athletic trainer on forelimb mechanics in healthy horses.

That athletic taping of the distal forelimb reduces 1) hyperextension of the fetlock joint during stance, 2) flexion of the fetlock joint during swing and 3) ground reaction forces during stance.

Ground reaction force and kinematic data were obtained for 6 healthy horses trotting at 3 m/sec for 4 sequential conditions (baseline, untaped; pre-exercise, taped; post exercise, taped post 30 mins trotting exercise; transfer, 4 h after tape removal). Data were analysed using 2-way mixed ANOVAs (condition; joint).

A statistically significant interaction was identified for the fetlock during the swing phase (mean +/- s.d. peak flexion at baseline 157 +/- 4 degrees, reduced with taping to 172 +/- 4 degrees; P<0.05) compared with no differences across conditions for the other joints. Peak vertical force reduced significantly (P<0.05) with taping.

Athletic taping of the fetlock does not alter the kinematics of the forelimb during stance, but does limit flexion of the fetlock during the swing phase. The decreased peak vertical force may be due to an increased proprioceptive effect.

Reduced peak vertical forces may be of benefit in preventing or reducing injury. Further investigation remains necessary before it can be concluded that taping should be applied for tendinous or ligamentous rehabilitation in equine patients.