PTRCTJournal of physical therapy science2017

Immediate effect of ankle balance taping on dynamic and static balance of soccer players with acute ankle sprain.

Young-Jun Shin, Myoung-Kwon Kim

PMID 28533597

WHAT IT FOUND

Ankle balance taping immediately reduced sway length and speed and raised limit of stability in 16 soccer players with acute ankle sprain, compared with placebo taping and no taping.

This is an immediate effect only.

Key findings

01Ankle balance taping showed significantly different limit of stability, sway length, and sway speed compared with no taping and placebo taping (p<0.05).

02Limit of stability was 8,537.0 mm with ankle balance taping, 6,304.7 mm with placebo taping, and 5,943.0 mm with no taping.

03Sway length was 22.7 cm with ankle balance taping, 29.3 cm with placebo taping, and 31.8 cm with no taping; sway speed was 0.3 cm/s with ankle balance taping, 0.4 cm/s with placebo taping, and 0.5 cm/s with no taping.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

Read the rest of this summary

You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.

Already have one?

What it does not show

Only 16 soccer players were studied, and the authors state the results cannot be generalized to all people with ankle instability. The study used a crossover design, which made it difficult to observe learning effects. The study measured immediate effects only, and long-term follow-up was not done. Participants were high school soccer players with ankle sprain within one month and no other major lower limb or neurological conditions, so it says little about other patients. The reported outcomes were sway length, sway speed, and limit of stability.

The easy way to misread this

Do not conclude that ankle balance taping prevents ankle sprains or produces lasting improvement. The study measured balance after taping in 16 soccer players, and the authors state long-term follow-up is needed.

Read it on PubMed →