EFFECT OF TAPING ON THE SOCCER ANKLE LATERAL INSTABILITY: A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY

Abstract

Chronic ankle joint instability, mechanical and/or functional, is common among athletes. The aim of this study is to evaluate, in the area of mechanical instability, the effect of the ankle adhesive tape related to the kind of ground reaction, and to evaluate with stress radiography its efficiency to determine the static stability. Material and Methods Ten soccer players (mean age 19.5 y) with ruptures of the calcaneo-fibular ligaments were tested during normal walking and running on the Bertec platform. The evaluation was repeated after 1 hour. The subjects were also studied using standardized radiographies. An elastic tape that was applied to the ankle, was the basket weave type combined with stirrup and heel lock. Results According to Karlsson, the reduction of the mechanical ankle instability by ankle tape, when evaluated with stress x-rays, is not significant. The data of the first ground-reaction analysis showed a significant reduction of the area of the lateral shear and also of the lateral shear peak in the terminal stance during walking; the reduction was not significant during the runnings. The analysis of the ground-reaction during walking afkr one hour of taping showed a disappearance of the first result. These results need to be confirmed in a greater number of subjects.