Author(s): LIN, J., CHANG, C.W., CHANG, Y.H., CHAINOK, P., KERNLUEA, S., KO, B.J., HUNG, M.H., Institution: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SPORT, Country: TAIWAN, Abstract-ID: 1192

INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this study was to simulate game-like conditions in which athletes are unable to fully focus on landing tasks by implementing a distracted attention paradigm during repeated single-leg lateral jump-landings. Dynamic taping was applied to examine its effects on dynamic postural stability and neuromuscular control. This experimental design aimed to elicit ankle inversion injury risk and to investigate lower-extremity compensatory strategies and the supportive effects of dynamic taping.
METHODS:
Nineteen female collegiate Division I athletes participated in this study. Participants performed four consecutive single-leg lateral jump-landings followed by a 5-second balance task under conditions with dynamic ankle taping. During testing, a dual-task (DT) paradigm was introduced in which participants held a wireless handgrip dynamometer with their dominant hand and maintained grip force at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction using real-time visual feedback. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to examine the effects of dual-task condition and dynamic taping.
RESULTS:
Under dual-task (DT) conditions, mediolateral center-of-pressure excursion and sway area increased significantly, indicating reduced landing stability. During lateral landing with dynamic taping, hip angular velocity increased in the sagittal and transverse planes but decreased in the frontal plane, suggesting greater proximal contribution and rotational shock absorption. Knee transverse-plane external rotation angular velocity increased, potentially enhancing rotational control at initial contact. Ankle range of motion was partially restricted. DT also increased rectus femoris activation during pre-landing and initial contact. The highest rectus femoris and vastus lateralis activation during push-off occurred under combined dynamic taping and DT conditions.
CONCLUSION:
The findings demonstrate that dual-task conditions significantly impair lateral landing stability, as evidenced by increased mediolateral center-of-pressure sway. This suggests that cognitive load disrupts sensorimotor integration and increases the difficulty of maintaining landing control. Following the dynamic taping intervention, a distinct proximal adjustment strategy was observed. Specifically, the results indicate that dynamic taping may facilitate a redistribution of rotational shock absorption demands toward the hip and knee joints, thereby enhancing rotational control during landing. Electromyographic data further suggest that athletes compensate for attentional distraction by increasing quadriceps pre-activation and push-off output. Notably, dynamic taping appears to augment this neuromuscular response under dual-task conditions. Overall, these findings support the potential role of dynamic taping as an adjunct strategy to promote proximal control and improve landing stability in high cognitive-load sporting contexts.