The acute effectiveness of ankle taping in dancers with chronic ankle instability - a randomized crossover study

Lateral ankle sprains and subsequent chronic ankle instability (CAI) are common among dancers, often presenting with impaired static and dynamic balance. Ankle taping is a conservative treatment option, but its effectiveness remains controversial. Dancers, who often exhibit greater generalized ligamentous laxity compared to other athletes, may respond differently to ankle taping, yet research specific to this population is limited. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the acute effects of taping on ankle stability and subjective functional outcomes in dancers with CAI, as well as to compare any outcome differences between CAI and non-CAI dancers.

This was a randomized crossover study in which eligible dancers were recruited in local dance institutions on a voluntary basis. Dancers underwent 4 ankle functional tests (single-leg stance, Y balance, side hop, figure-of-8 test) with and without ankle taping, clinical screening for ankle instability and generalized ligamentous laxity, as well as a questionnaire on their subjective ankle functional outcome (i.e., Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool/CAIT) and their perception of ankle taping. The primary outcome measure was single-leg stance result parameters, while secondary outcome measures included results from the remaining three ankle functional tests and the CAIT score. CAI in this study was defined as dancers with at least one ankle sprain and CAIT ≤24, the recommended cutoff by the International Ankle Consortium (IAC). Control group was defined as dancers with no ankle sprain or CAIT >24.

Eighty-nine eligible dancers from local dance institutions were recruited, with 85 (170 ankles) completing the study. 74.1% reported at least one ankle sprain, and 64.7% met the criteria for CAI. Ankle taping significantly improved static balance in dancers with non-structural instability (i.e., functional CAI or non-hypermobile dancers), but not for those with structural instability (i.e., mechanical CAI or hypermobile dancers). No significant improvements were observed in dynamic balance or other functional tests across all dancers.

While this study showed evidence that ankle taping can improve static balance in CAI dancers with non-structural instability (e.g., functional CAI, non-hypermobile), the effectiveness of reducing reinjury risks in dancers with CAI remained uncertain. These findings provided some support for the use of ankle taping as an adjunct for dancers with CAI. There is a need to explore alternative conservative treatments tailored to this population.