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Prophylactic Ankle Taping Effects on Knee Joint Kinematics During Lateral-Cutting and Jump Landing in an Open Field Environment in Female Division I Soccer Athletes


Michael A. Mclaughlin, MS
UNITED STATES

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Prophylactic Ankle Taping Effects on Knee Joint Kinematics During Lateral-Cutting and Jump Landing in an Open Field Environment in Female Division I Soccer Athletes

Michael A. Mclaughlin, MS, UNITED STATES Gurtej S. Grewal, PhD, UNITED STATES T. Sean Lynch, MD, UNITED STATES Bijan Najafi, PhD, UNITED STATES Michael Terry, MD, UNITED STATES Stephen M. Gryzlo, MD, UNITED STATES Sara L. Edwards, MD, UNITED STATES

Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

2013 Congress   Paper Abstract   2013 Congress   Not yet rated

 

Anatomic Location

Ankle / Foot / Calf Knee

Anatomic Structure

Bones Capsuloligamentous Complex Cartilage Tendon Ligaments Meniscus Joints

Diagnosis / Condition

Trauma Instability Sprain

Sports Medicine

Preventative Sports Medicine Exercise Physiology Biomechanics

Summary: Use of wireless sensors in an open field environment demonstrates that prophylactic ankle taping significantly reduces peak knee varus-valgus moments and external rotation during lateral-cutting and during jump landing, significantly decreases knee flexion in collegiate female soccer athletes.

Objective

Ankle taping has become standard procedure in many athletic events with the hope of preventing ankle instability. A number of studies have investigated the effects of ankle taping on the knee joint; however, to our knowledge, no study has collected data in an open-field environment. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of ankle taping on knee joint motion during open field cutting and off-axis vertical jump landings by using wireless inertial sensors.

Methods

Fifteen (mean: 19.8 years) NCAA Division I female soccer athletes were recruited. Wireless motion-detecting sensors were placed on the leg, thigh and low back of each subject. Data was collected at the knee while the subjects performed unanticipated lateral-cutting maneuvers, at ¾ maximum speed, with and without ankle tape. Knee kinematics were also recorded when landing onto a slant board from a vertical jump with and without ankle tape.

Results

During unanticipated lateral cutting, immobilization of the ankle joint with tape significantly reduced peak varus-valgus moments at the knee joint (8.3%, p=0.0264). Ankle taping also significantly reduced (8.4%, p=0.0315) peak external knee rotation.
During the jump landing trials, subjects with ankle taping demonstrated a significant (7.7%, p=0.041) decrease in knee joint flexion.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that prophylactic ankle taping significantly reduces knee varus-valgus movements and knee rotation during lateral-cutting while running in an open field environment. The jump landing trials demonstrate a significant decrease in knee flexion with prophylactic ankle taping. Our data suggests that immobilization of the ankle with tape has a potentially protective effect on the knee joint during lateral-cutting tasks but may exacerbate damaging knee kinematics during uneven jump landings in female athletes.