Author(s): CHENG, T., CHANG, C., HSU, T., LIN, J., Institution: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SPORT, Country: TAIWAN, Abstract-ID: 1441

INTRODUCTION:
Sports taping provides support and stabilization for the ankle during the rehabilitation phase while enhancing ankle stability to prevent re-injuries [1]. However, there is limited research on the effects of sports taping on ankle stability during high-speed running, and scientific validation remains insufficient. Therefore, this study compares the differences in joint kinematics and foot plantar pressure under different taping conditions during high-speed running.
METHODS:
This study recruited nine athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI) to perform a 20-seconds high-speed running test at 15 km/h of three conditions: no taping (NT), athletic taping (AT), and dynamic taping (DT). A quasar foot plantar pressure treadmill, nine EMG sensors, and nine IMUs were used to collect foot plantar pressure, muscle activation, and gait parameters. The analysis focused on different phases of running gait cycle, including the stance phase, swing phase, initial swing, mid-swing, and terminal swing. One-way ANOVA repeated measurement was conducted to compare the kinematic and kinetic and foot plantar pressure distribution across different taping.
RESULTS:
The results of this study showed no significant differences between AT and DT across different stance phases during high-speed running. However, both AT and DT resulted in significantly greater ankle dorsiflexion during the stance phase compared to NT (p=.014). Additionally, during the swing phase (p=.042) and mid-swing phase (p=.044), the ankle dorsiflexion were significantly lower with AT and DT than with NT. No significant differences were observed in lower limb muscle activation, gait parameters, or foot plantar pressure across different taping during the various stance phases.
CONCLUSION:
The findings of this study indicate that both athletic taping and dynamic taping effectively restrict the range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint without affecting muscle activation or max foot plantar pressure. Additionally, CAI often exhibit excessive plantarflexion and limited dorsiflexion [2]. The findings suggest that DT is more effective than NT and AT in increasing the stance phase and reducing the swing phase of the ankle joint dorsiflexion angle. This modulation may facilitate shock absorption during initia; contact of stance phase and promote a more neutral ankle position during the swing phase, optimizing landing preparation and potentially reducing the risk of repetitive high-speed running-related ankle injuries. Furthermore, when the ankle joint is in dorsiflexion, the elastic recoil effect of DT increases the storage of elastic energy, thereby reducing lower limb load [3]. Therefore, it is recommended that athletes with CAI in high-speed running-related activities consider using DT for injury prevention when athletic taping is necessary.

1.Yang et al. (2022) 2. Li et al. (2024) 3. Mcneill et al. (2016)