Effect of Ankle Taping on Lower Extremities in Stance Phase of Walking

Abstract

[Purpose] The objective of this research was to verify the effect of taping on the ankle in the stance phase of walking as well as its mechanical effect on proximal joint in case of barefoot walking and walking with taping. [Subjects] Ten healthy college students who did not have any past medical history of lower extremities disorder were the subjects of this study. [Methods] Subjects performed walking barefoot and with taping, and we collected the data using a motion analysis device and a force plate. We calculated kinetic and kinematic data in the stance phase of the right lower extremity. [Results] The range of motion of the ankle was low due to taping. In the early and middle stance phases, ground reaction force and joint force were significantly low. Also, hip joint extension torque was significantly large in the ground contact phase due to taping. [Conclusion] Taping played the following roles in the stance phase of walking: (1) braking of foot-ankle against kinetic load in the forward and backward directions in the early and middle stance phases and (2) control of the body in the forward direction in the early stance phase.