EFFECT OF ANKLE TAPING ON STANDING BALANCE IN THE INDIVIDUALS WITH FUNCTIONAL ANKLE INSTABILITY

Abstract

Ankle sprain is one of the most common sport injuries in athletes. Based on the epidemiologic investigation (Bahr, 1997), the injury rate of ankle sprain could be 54% in volleyball players, indicating that more than half of the volleyball players has been suffering ankle sprain. The rate of recurrent ankle sprain could be as high as 79% in the volleyball players with ankle sprain. Also, ankle sprain is a common sports injury that can cause significant and chronic disability. Functional instability of the ankle has been defined as a tendency for the foot to give away after an ankle sprain. Such instability is a relatively widespread concern following the acute ankle sprain, persisting as a chronic condition long after the apparent signs and symptoms of the original insult have resolved. Ankle taping has become one of the major interventions in athletic training and is often used for rehabilitation and/or prevention of ankle sprains. Orthotic devices have been shown to effectively modify selected aspects of lower extremity mechanics and improve foot stability during the stance phase of running (Guskiewicz, 1996). Ankle function and muscle coordination after the ankle sprain have been documented (Fu, 2005). However, very little study has been done focusing on the effect of ankle taping on balance control in the individuals with recurrent ankle sprains. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle taping on the balance ability in the individual with functional ankle instability.