Effects of ankle taping on the motion and loading pattern of the foot for walking subjects

Gait analysis was used to compare the ground reaction forces, ankle and foot rotations in the sagittal plane, and the center of pressure pattern beneath the right feet of seven normal subjects walking barefoot, with and without their right ankles taped in the neutral position. Instrumentation included a force plate, ankle goniometer, and two accelerometers mounted on top of the foot. The ground reaction forces showed no changes between the same ankle, taped and untaped. Taping served to reduce the range of ankle rotations in the sagittal plane by approximately 20%, with a subsequent increase in the rotation about the metatarsal heads during heel-up. Heel-up occurred earlier in stance when the ankle was taped than with no taping. The vertical force graph was integrated over time when the center of pressure was located beneath the heel and the ball, resulting in two impulse measurements. The heel impulse decreased for each of the 7 subjects and 6 of the 7 subjects displayed an increase in the ball impulse due to taping, indicating that taping served to shift the load-time history away from the heel and toward the ball. The results of this study may apply to fused ankle patients, who may suffer forefoot abnormalities subsequent to ankle fusion surgery.