Taping Benefits Ankle Joint Landing Kinematics in Subjects With Chronic Ankle Instability

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-167
Author(s):  
Roel De Ridder ◽  
Tine Willems ◽  
Jos Vanrenterghem ◽  
Ruth Verrelst ◽  
Cedric De Blaiser ◽  
...  

Context: Although taping has been proven effective in reducing ankle sprain events in individuals with chronic ankle instability, insight into the precise working mechanism remains limited. Objectives: To evaluate whether the use of taping changes ankle joint kinematics during a sagittal and frontal plane landing task in subjects with chronic ankle instability. Design: Repeated measure design. Setting: Laboratory setting. Participants: A total of 28 participants with chronic ankle instability performed a forward and side jump landing task in a nontaped and taped condition. The taping procedure consisted of a double “figure of 6” and a medial heel lock. Main Outcome Measures: 3D ankle joint kinematics was registered. Statistical parametric mapping was used to assess taping effect on mean ankle joint angles and angular velocity over the landing phase. Results: For both the forward and side jump, a less plantar flexed and a less inverted position of the ankle joint were found in the preparatory phase till around touchdown (TD) in the taped condition (P < .05). In addition, for both jump landing protocols, a decreased dorsiflexion angular velocity was found after TD (P < .05). During the side jump protocol, a brief period of increased inversion angular velocity was registered after TD (P < .05). Conclusions: Taping is capable of altering ankle joint kinematics prior to TD, placing the ankle joint in a less vulnerable position at TD.

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 853-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Fuerst ◽  
Albert Gollhofer ◽  
Heinz Lohrer ◽  
Dominic Gehring

AbstractDespite a considerable amount of research, the deficits causing recurrent sprains in people with chronic ankle instability are still unclear. Changes in frontal plane kinematics and decreased peroneal activation have been proposed as potential underlying mechanisms, but whether people with ankle instability show deficits in control of injury-relevant movements is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to analyse ankle joint kinematics and kinetics as well as neuromuscular activation during dynamic change-of-direction movements. Eighteen participants with functional instability, 18 participants with functional and mechanical instability and 18 healthy controls performed 45° sidestep-cutting and 180° turning movements in reaction to light signals. During sidestep-cutting both instability groups displayed significantly lower inversion angles than controls when the trials with the highest maximum inversion angle of each participant were compared. In turning movements, participants with functional instability presented significantly lower average maximum inversion angles than controls as well as higher peroneal activation before foot strike than participants with both functional and mechanical instability. We theorize that the observed changes in movement kinematics of participants with chronic ankle instability are the result of a protective strategy to limit frontal plane ankle joint loading in potentially harmful situations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Fuerst ◽  
Albert Gollhofer ◽  
Markus Wenning ◽  
Dominic Gehring

Abstract Background The application of ankle braces is an effective method for the prevention of recurrent ankle sprains. It has been proposed that the reduction of injury rates is based on the mechanical stiffness of the brace and on beneficial effects on proprioception and neuromuscular activation. Yet, how the neuromuscular system responds to the application of various types of ankle braces during highly dynamic injury-relevant movements is not well understood. Enhanced stability of the ankle joint seems especially important for people with chronic ankle instability. We therefore aimed to analyse the effects of a soft and a semi-rigid ankle brace on the execution of highly dynamic 180° turning movements in participants with and without chronic ankle instability. Methods Fifteen participants with functional ankle instability, 15 participants with functional and mechanical ankle instability and 15 healthy controls performed 180° turning movements in reaction to light signals in a cross-sectional descriptive laboratory study. Ankle joint kinematics and kinetics as well as neuromuscular activation of muscles surrounding the ankle joint were determined. Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance and post-hoc t-tests were calculated. Results Maximum ankle inversion angles and velocities were significantly reduced with the semi-rigid brace in comparison to the conditions without a brace and with the soft brace (p ≤ 0.006, d ≥ 0.303). Effect sizes of these reductions were larger in participants with chronic ankle instability than in healthy controls. Furthermore, peroneal activation levels decreased significantly with the semi-rigid brace in the 100 ms before and after ground contact. No statistically significant brace by group effects were found. Conclusions Based on these findings, we argue that people with ankle instability in particular seem to benefit from a semi-rigid ankle brace, which allows them to keep ankle inversion angles in a range that is comparable to values of healthy people. Lower ankle inversion angles and velocities with a semi-rigid brace may explain reduced injury incidences with brace application. The lack of effect of the soft brace indicates that the primary mechanism behind the reduction of inversion angles and velocities is the mechanical resistance of the brace in the frontal plane.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (5S) ◽  
pp. 761
Author(s):  
Kaitland Garner ◽  
S. Jun Son ◽  
Dustin Bruening ◽  
Brent Feland ◽  
Matthew Seeley ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
M. Spencer Cain ◽  
Kyeongtak Song ◽  
J. Troy Blackburn ◽  
Kimmery Migel ◽  
Erik A. Wikstrom

Ankle joint mobilization has been shown to be effective at improving outcomes in those with chronic ankle instability (CAI), but the neuromuscular mechanisms are still unknown. We aimed to determine the immediate effect of a single Grade III anterior-to-posterior ankle joint mobilization bout on ankle musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) in those with CAI. Seventeen CAI participants had plantar flexor and fibularis MTS assessed before and after a 5-min joint mobilization treatment. MTS outcomes were estimated using the damped oscillation method. Fibularis (0.25 ± 0.41 N/m/kg, p = .028) but not plantar flexor MTS (−2.18 ± 14.35 N/m/kg, p = .539) changed following mobilization and exceeded the calculated minimal detectable change score (0.12 N/m/kg). Increased fibularis MTS may represent a neuromuscular mechanism by which ankle joint mobilizations improve postural control in those with CAI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 151-155
Author(s):  
Jacob T. Hartzell ◽  
Kyle B. Kosik ◽  
Matthew C. Hoch ◽  
Phillip A. Gribble

Clinical Scenario: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterized by the residual symptoms and feelings of instability that persist after an acute ankle sprain. Current literature has identified several neuromuscular impairments associated with CAI that may negatively impact sagittal plane knee kinematics during dynamic activities. This has led researchers to begin examining sagittal plane knee kinematics during jump landing tasks. Understanding changes in movement patterns at the knee may assist clinicians in designing rehabilitation plans that target both the ankle and more proximal joints, such as the knee. Clinical Question: What is the evidence to support the notion that patients with CAI have decreased sagittal plane knee flexion angle at initial contact during a jump-landing task compared to healthy individuals? Summary of Key Findings: The literature was systematically searched for level 4 evidence or higher. The search yielded two case-control studies which met the inclusion criteria. Based on limited evidence, there are mixed results for whether sagittal plane knee kinematic at initial contact differ between those with and without CAI. Clinical Bottom Line: There is weak evidence to support changes in sagittal plane knee kinematics at initial contact during a jump landing in individuals with CAI compared to healthy controls. Strength of Recommendation: In accordance with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, a grade of C for level 4 evidence is recommended due to variable findings.


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