Kinesio Tape Effects on Ankle Proprioception

Has Kinesio Tape Effects on Ankle Proprioception? A Randomized Clinical Trial

The aim of the present study was to establish whether Kinesio Tape (KT) on the ankle (Kase protocol for the lateral ankle ligament) improves Joint Position Sense (JPS) in healthy volunteers immediately after its application and 48 hours later.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sprains and Strains
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Kinesio tape

Detailed Description

The investigators assessed Joint Position Sense (JPS) through the difference of error (DoE) and the deviation of the target angle (DTA). JPS was assessed before the Kinesio Tape (KT) was placed, immediately after and 48 hours later.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 73
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Tarragona
    • Reus, Tarragona, Spain, 43201
      • Faculty of Medicina i Ciències de la Salut; University Rovira i Virgili.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be signed the informed consent
• Aged between 18 and 35 years
• Did not suffered from ankle or foot skin diseases
• Active dorsal/plantarflexion ARoM equal to or above 15º and inversion/eversion
• ARoM equal to or above 5º.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Traumatic, neurological or circulatory diseases diagnosed
• Joint laxity
• More than three ankle sprains in their lives or one in the last 12 months that required treatment and ankle or foot pain at the time of study enrolment in the non-dominant lower limb.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: KT group; The KT group received ankle KT on the lateral ligament in the non-dominant leg and a recommendation guide. The Kinesio tape procedure was carried out by the same certified athletic therapist to ensure consistency throughout the study.	Device: Kinesio tape; The KT used was Kinesiology Tape® of 5 cm and it was applied according to Kase protocol (Kase K). The first layer of tape consisted of a single strip placed over the anterior talofibular ligament from insertion to origin, with a 50% tension, except the two-centimetre proximal and distal ends, applied with no tension. The same procedure was repeated for the calcaneofibular ligament and posterior talofibular ligament; Other Names: Kinesio-tape; Kinesiotape; KinesioTM tape
No Intervention: Control group; Any intervention has been applied. Using another kind of tape or a different KT application for control group may increase cutaneous information, undermining our goal.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Joint position sense on the Difference of Error from the target angle	The primary outcome, difference of error (DE) in degrees was calculated to show changes in error from the target angle over time. We compared error, before and immediately after intervention (DoE 1-2), before and 48 hours after intervention (DE 1-3) and immediately and 48 hours after intervention (DE 2-3).	Change from baseline in proprioception at 48h

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Deviation of the target angle	We also calculated the deviation from the target angle (DTA) in degrees, this secondary outcome to describe the direction of error when subjects tried to reproduce the requested position. Deviation was obtained encoding net error taking as correct position when the target and the estimated angle were equal, considering the precision of the electronic plate a valid range (0.4 degrees). Values above this range were classified as Overestimation and as Underestimation when values were below this range.	Change from baseline in proprioception at 48h

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Rovira i Virgili
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Iris Miralles, University Rovira i Virgili

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Miralles I, Monterde S, Montull S, Salvat I, Fernandez-Ballart J, Beceiro J. Ankle taping can improve proprioception in healthy volunteers. Foot Ankle Int. 2010 Dec;31(12):1099-106. doi: 10.3113/FAI.2010.1099.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): February 15, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 15, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2013
• Last Verified: February 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Proprioception; ankle lateral ligament; athletic tape; position sense
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Sprains and Strains
• Other Study ID Numbers: T11230S; R02/2010 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Col.legi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya)