The Effects Of A Water Soluble Versus A Non-Water Soluble Pre-Tape Adhesive Spray on Subtalar Joint Pronation

Abstract

Pre-tape adhesive sprays are utilized by virtually all athletic trainers before taping their athletes. All the sprays currently marketed are water soluble. This study investigated the effect of water soluble and non-water soluble pretape sprays in conjunction with ankle taping on subtalar joint pronation during a 40 minute,S mile treadmill run. Eight middle distance college age runners (mean age =18.34 yrs) volunteered to be subjects in this study. A PEAK Technologies Inc., 2D Motion Measurement System was utilized to video tape subjects at a rate of 60 Hz, capturing a rear view of the lower extremity at eight minute intervals, including a trial at the beginning of the data collection session. From the rearfoot motion curves maximum pronation (MP) was used as an indicator of ankle taping integrity. Each subject performed this protocol twice wearing the same shoes while counterbalancing the presentation of the treatments: Cl - non-water soluble pretape spray and C2 - water soluble pre-tape spray. All taping procedures were done on the right ankle of each subject by an NATAcertified athletic trainer. Neither the subjects nor the trainer knew which treatment conditions were being used at the time of data collection. The results showed that Cl, the nonwater soluble pre-tape spray permitted a 0.56 degree increase in MP compared to a 2.31 degree increase in MP for C2. Since running is a major component of most sports and controlling rearfoot motion is important especially in those sports where ankles are taped one conclusion from these data is that nonwater soluble pre-tape spray demonstrated a significant ability to better control rearfoot motion compared to conventional water soluble sprays on the market, thus freeing the athletic trainer for other duties.