Ankle taping is commonly used in athletic settings to prevent excessive movements and improve stability and confidence in athletes with a history of ankle injuries. However, the optimal application of taping remains unclear and controversial due to its potential restrictive effect on athletes' performance. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of talusstabilizing taping (TST) on athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI) in joint motion, joint function, proprioception, and postural control. Forty-two athletes with CAI, who met the study criteria, were randomly divided into two groups: 21 patients in the TST group and 21 patients in the control group. By the end of the study, 18 patients from each group completed the entire program.
The intervention of TST was applied along with mobilization with movement (MWM) for four weeks, with 30 minutes for TST and 15 minutes for MWM per session, four times a week. The TST group implemented TST before the warm-up session and performed MWM, while the control group followed the same protocol without TST. Both groups were assessed and evaluated before and after the intervention using the weight-bearing lunge test, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) in activities of daily living (ADL) and sports, joint position sense, static postural sway, and Y-balance test.
As a result, the application of TST demonstrated significant improvements in joint motion, joint function, proprioception, and postural control for athletes with CAI. Statistically significant improvements in joint motion were observed in the TST group compared to the control group (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between pre-test and post-test FAAM-ADL scores for both groups (p>0.05). Although the TST group displayed a greater improvement in FAAM-Sport scores, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). For proprioception, the TST group demonstrated significant differences at the neutral position and 10° dorsiflexion (p<0.05), with no notable differences at 10° and 20° plantarflexion between groups (p>0.05). The TST group showed significant improvements in dynamic postural control across all three directions (p<0.05). Additionally, only the TST group exhibited significant differences in all center-of-pressure parameters related to static postural control (p<0.05).
These findings underline the value of incorporating TST as a complementary intervention alongside manual therapy for the management of CAI in athletes.