The influence of Mulligan ankle taping on dynamic balance in the athletes with and without chronic ankle instability

The ankle joint is the most frequently injured anatomical site in athletes. Ankle instability is responsible for 25% of all time lost from sport. Clinical efficacy of the effect of taping in athletes with chronic ankle instability is unknown. So the purpose of this investigation is the study of the influence of Mulligan ankle taping on dynamic balance in the athletes with and without chronic ankle instability. 32 athletes participated in this investigation: 16 subjects with chronic ankle instability, 6 women and 10 men (age 23.5±0.3 years, height 175.4±10.3 cm, weight 73.6±14.5 kg, Foot Ankle Disability Index 74.5±8.62% and Foot Ankle Disability Index Sport 63.5±7.86%) and 16 healthy subjects, 6 women and 10 men (age 22.81±7.1 years, height 173.6±12.26 cm, weight 66.4±11.4 kg, Foot Ankle Disability Index and Foot Ankle Disability Index Sport 100%). Dynamic balance was assessed with Star Excursion Balance Test in 3 reaching directions (medial, antero-medial and postero-medial) before and after Mulligan ankle taping. Independent and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis. Dynamic balance in healthy group significantly was better than injured group (p≤0.05). Application of taping caused significantly improvement in dynamic balance in both groups (reaching in media, antero-medial and postero-medial directions) (p≤0.05) (except reaching in antero-medial direction in healthy group) (p>0.05). So it seems that Mulligan ankle taping can improve dynamic balance in the athletes with and without chronic ankle instability.