Ankle taping can improve proprioception in healthy volunteers

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Ankle sprains are common, with taping frequently used for treatment.
• The impact of ankle taping on proprioception remains unclear.
• Proprioception is vital for ankle joint function and injury prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether ankle taping affects proprioception.
• To quantify changes in joint position sense (JPS) with ankle taping.

Main Methods:

• Forty healthy volunteers participated, assessed for JPS using 3D movement analysis.
• Participants actively reproduced four ankle positions: 10° dorsiflexion, neutral, 10° and 20° plantarflexion.
• Subjects were randomized into a control group or an intervention group receiving ankle tape.

Main Results:

• Ankle taping significantly improved JPS in the dorsiflexion position (p=0.038).
• The neutral ankle position was reproduced most accurately by both groups.
• Both groups tended to overestimate the target ankle positions.

Conclusions:

• Ankle taping demonstrably improves proprioception in healthy individuals.
• Three-dimensional movement analysis provides accurate quantification of JPS.
• Findings are significant given the role of proprioception in ankle injury prevention and rehabilitation.