ARTIGO DO MÊS (6/2009)

The Effect of Ankle Taping on Detection of Inversion-Eversion Movements in Participants With Recurrent Ankle Sprain

Refshauge, K.M.; Raymond, J. ; Kilbreath S.L.; Pengel, L.; Heijnen, I.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine (2009) Vol. 37, No. 2: 371-375

ABSTRACT

Background: Taping is often used to counter the proprioceptive deficit after joint injury such as ankle sprain. However, the effect of taping on proprioceptive acuity at the ankle is unclear, with conflicting findings.

Hypothesis: Application of tape improves detection of inversion and eversion movements at the ankle.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: The 70% threshold for movement detection was measured in 16 participants with recurrent ankle sprain under 2 conditions: with the ankle taped or untaped. The threshold for movement detection was examined at 3 velocities (0.1 deg/s, 0.5 deg/s, and 2.5 deg/s) and in 2 directions (inversion and eversion).

Results: Application of tape significantly decreased the ability to detect movements at the ankle (P < .023). For example, at 0.5 deg/s, the 70% detection threshold was 3.40° ± 1.05° in inversion and 3.49° ± 1.15° in eversion at the untaped ankle, and 4.02° ± 0.86° in inversion and 4.04° ± 0.89° in eversion at the taped ankle.

Conclusion: Taping the ankle decreased the ability to detect movement in the inversion-eversion plane in participants with recurrent ankle sprain.

Clinical Relevance: The findings suggest that the efficacy of taping is unlikely to be explained by an enhanced ability to detectinversion or eversion movements. However, because it has been found effective in reducing the incidence of ankle sprain, clinicians should continue taping to reduce the likelihood of resprain.

KEYPOINTS - It is still unclear why taping the ankle reduces the risk of future sprains, although it has been shown to be effective. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of taping is unlikely to be due to an enhanced ability to detect inversion or eversion movements. To the contrary, we found that taping decreased the ability to detect movement in the inversion-eversion plane. This observation may be due to the tape, as we applied it, presenting unnatural cutaneous information and thereby reducing proprioceptive acuity.

Keywords: ankle instability; ankle inversion sprain; movement detection; proprioception; prophylaxis