Prophylactic ankle taping: elastic versus inelastic taping

The ankle is frequently injured in sporting activities, and therefore it is frequently protected with prophylactic ankle taping. This study aimed first, to compare the mechanical fatigue of two types of prophylactic ankle taping after 30 minutes of intense exercise, one made with elastic tape (ET) and the other with inelastic tape (IT), and second, to investigate the subjects' perception on the tape restriction and comfort.

Twenty-seven active women (mean age, 20.6 +/- 4.1 years), without previous ankle injuries volunteered for the study. The participants were tested on three different conditions: with elastic ankle taping, with inelastic taping, and without taping, before and after 30 minutes of intense exercise. The ankle passive ranges of movement (ROMs) were measured before and after exercise, and a subjective scale on taping comfort and restriction was completed by the subjects.

Both types of ankle taping showed less ROM restriction after 30 minutes of exercise in inversion (IT = 27% and ET = 21%), and plantarflexion (IT = 8% and ET = 6%). The IT showed more loss of restriction than the ET, with significant differences in inversion (p < 0.05). The participants perceived the ET as more comfortable and less restrictive.

We would recommend the use of ET as the first choice for prophylactic ankle taping because it produces the same restriction in the ROM as the IT with less taping fatigue, and is perceived as more comfortable and less restrictive by the users.