The effects of Kinesio tape on compressive and shear forces of ankle joint during single-leg landing for men elite volleyball players with chronic ankle instability

The chronic ankle sprain is the most common injury among athletes, and using the tape is one way to prevent it. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the Kinsio-tape on the compressive and shear mechanical forces of the ankle joint during single-leg jump landing. 12 subjects were selected based on inclusion criteria. Subjects were asked to perform landing after jump in the conditions of with Kinsio-tape and barefoot, with the injured leg. The peak and mean compressive and shear forces of ankle joint were calculated in MATLAB software. Paired t-test was used to test the hypotheses (P≤0.05). There is no significant difference in all variables between two condition of landing with barefoot (mean of shear force= 0/05 ± 0/01, peak of shear force= 0/85 ± 0/06, mean of compressive force= 0/39 ± 0/02, peak of compressive force= 4/41 ± 0/22) and with Kinsio tape (mean of shear force= 0/05 ± 0/01, peak of shear force= 0/82 ± 0/06, mean of compressive force= 0/38 ± 0/03, peak of compressive force= 4/43 ± 0/28) (P>0.05). Since the use of the Kinsio-tape did not make a significant difference in the variables, it cannot be suggested as a safe prescription to protect ankle joint from compressive and shear mechanical forces in volleyball players.