Immediate effects of ankle eversion taping on dynamic and static balance of chronic stroke patients with foot drop.
Young Jun Shin, So Min Kim, Hyun Sung Kim
PMID 28626316WHAT IT FOUND
For people with chronic stroke and foot drop, ankle eversion taping immediately improved balance compared with placebo taping or no taping.
The effect was only immediate.
Key findings
01Mean limit of stability was 4,362.0 mm with ankle eversion taping, 3,569.3 mm with placebo taping, and 3,185.6 mm with no taping.
02Mean sway length was 28.9 cm with ankle eversion taping, 33.0 cm with placebo taping, and 36.2 cm with no taping.
03The study reported significant differences in limit of stability, sway length, and sway speed, with ankle eversion taping favored over placebo taping and no taping.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
9 people is a small sample, so the result is preliminary and may not apply to all stroke patients with foot drop. The study measured balance only immediately after taping, so it does not show whether benefit lasts during daily activities. The crossover design made it difficult to observe learning effects from repeated taping. Participants could already walk at least 15 m and had lower-limb recovery stages 3 to 5, so the result says little about more dependent patients.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that ankle eversion taping improves balance in daily life or prevents falls. The study measured 9 people immediately after taping, and it did not test long-term use or daily activities.