The effects of ankle guards and taping on joint motion before, during, and after a squash match

The effects of ankle guards and taping on joint motion before, during, and after exercise were studied. Twelve league squash players played two matches, each lasting 1 hour. Two different ankle guards, and two types of tape applied by the same method, served as supports. A specially designed goniometer with electronic digital display (accuracy 1 degree) was used to determine joint range of motion: plantar-flexion and dorsiflexion, neutral inversion and eversion, plantar-flexed inversion and eversion. The results were statistically analyzed to determine the significance of the restriction provided by the supports. This revealed that the two ankle guards provided no significant support. The two tapes, however, provided significant support before exercise and after 10 minutes but not after 1 hour of exercise. Nonelastic (zinc oxide) tape proved to be the most restrictive at all times measured, especially prior to exercise, when the ankle's range of motion was decreased between 30% and 50%. However, once exercise commenced, the tape stretched, and restriction became less effective.