The Immediate Effect of Kinesio Taping on the Balance Performance of Patients with Chronic Ankle Sprains: A Randomized Controlled Trial

 Lateral ankle sprain is a common injury resulting from a rapid supination moment that damages the lateral ligaments and cartilaginous surfaces and contributes to the deterioration of functional ankle stability and balance among individuals.

 This study aimed to investigate the immediate effect of Kinesio Taping (KT) on the balance performance of patients with chronic ankle sprains.

 This randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study was performed using the allocation concealment method. Sixty individuals (27 males and 33 females) with a history of ankle sprain were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the experimental (KT; n = 30) or control (non-KT; n = 30) groups. The intervention continued for two consecutive days, including four assessment sessions before and after taping on the first day and before and after removing KT on the second day. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of the center of pressure (COP) displacement and the velocity and SD of COP displacement were measured in the ant-post and med-lat directions following inversion and anterior perturbations. For data analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed using SPSS software version 22. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT2013110415262N1).

 The results of repeated measures ANOVA revealed an increase in the mean changes of COP displacement, velocity of COP displacement, and SD of COP displacement in the med-lat direction during inversion perturbation immediately after KT (P = 0.031, P = 0.005, and P = 0.011, respectively) and 24 hours after KT (P = 0.019, P = 0.002, and P = 0.009, respectively), compared to the control group. Moreover, during anterior perturbation, a significant increase was observed in the SD of COP displacement immediately and 24 hours after applying KT in the med-lat direction, compared to the control group (P = 0.022 and P = 0.016, respectively).

 Our findings revealed that KT might not improve the COP sway during perturbation in individuals with ankle sprains.