Ankle taping and Motor Control
Esteves, J.(1), Melo, F.(2), Oliveira, R. (2), Cabri, J. (2)
Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão (1)
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana (2)
ABSTRACT - poster apresentado no 13º European Congress of Sports Sciences (ECSS)
Estoril, Julho/2008
Introduction: Ankle taping as a therapeutic procedure and a prophylactic strategy is very commonly used in physiotherapy. Nevertheless, one can ask if its prolonged use is harmful to the neuro-mechanisms of joint protection and to motor control. For a long time, clinical research aimed to investigate the effects of musculoskeletal injury and rehabilitation on joint proprioception mechanisms. High level athletes practice under different constraints such as injury and fatigue. These factors which may affect motor control and performance, depend mostly on balance control which is related to the base of support (foot (dis)placement) and can influence rehabilitation and prevention. During sports activities the use of an ankle tape can be uncomfortable and may affect movement control.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle tape on motor control and balance.
Methods: Two studies were developed in order to answer the above mentioned obejctives.
Study A – In this study we investigated the balance control of 17 healthy subjects (mean age =21 years old, mean height = 1.64 m), wearing an ankle tape during 5 days. Analysis of different parameters relevant to postural sway in different conditions (open and closed eyes conditions) was carried out. Measurements were performed before tape immobilization and after its removal, with a Balance Master® System of Neurocom® International Inc.
Study B – In a second study we investigated 32 healthy subjects (mean age = 19 years old, mean height = 1.67 m) randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=17) or a control group (n=15). The experimental group wore an ankle tape during 5 days. The control group was not submitted to any intervention. Experimental data concerning the peroneal muscles reaction time (PRT) were collected on both groups (before tape immobilization and at the moment after tape removal on the experimental group). Those measurements were done using a trapdoor as stimulus device and EMG to identify the peroneal muscles activity. PRT was calculated with a specific computer algorithm.
Results:
Study A – In this study we investigated the balance control of 17 healthy subjects (mean age =21 years old, mean height = 1.64 m), wearing an ankle tape during 5 days. Analysis of different parameters relevant to postural sway in different conditions (open and closed eyes conditions) was carried out. Measurements were performed before tape immobilization and after its removal, with a Balance Master® System of Neurocom® International Inc.
Study B – In a second study we investigated 32 healthy subjects (mean age = 19 years old, mean height = 1.67 m) randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=17) or a control group (n=15). The experimental group wore an ankle tape during 5 days. The control group was not submitted to any intervention. Experimental data concerning the peroneal muscles reaction time (PRT) were collected on both groups (before tape immobilization and at the moment after tape removal on the experimental group). Those measurements were done using a trapdoor as stimulus device and EMG to identify the peroneal muscles activity. PRT was calculated with a specific computer algorithm.
Results:
Study A – The postural sway increased in the open eyes condition (p<0,05)>0,05).
Study B – Wearing an ankle tape during five days did not affect the peroneal reaction time (p>0,05).
Conclusions: Our results indicate us that the use of an ankle tape does not affect the neuro-mechanisms of the ankle (balance control parameters and reaction time) in healthy subjects. This may be considered an interesting result for athletes who may think that preventive functional taping may affect motor control.
Study B – Wearing an ankle tape during five days did not affect the peroneal reaction time (p>0,05).
Conclusions: Our results indicate us that the use of an ankle tape does not affect the neuro-mechanisms of the ankle (balance control parameters and reaction time) in healthy subjects. This may be considered an interesting result for athletes who may think that preventive functional taping may affect motor control.
Parabéns. Excelente.
ResponderEliminarObrigado e Apareça sempre.
ResponderEliminarRaul Oliveira