The Effect of Ankle Floss Band on Football Players

The Effect of Ankle Floss Band Application on Balance, Proprioception and Performance

There is no study in the literature investigating the effects of ankle stimulation with the flossband soft tissue technique on balance and proprioception. The impact of flossband use on flexibility and static and dynamic balance in the lower extremities requires further research. It is likely that flossband, which has been found to enhance sports performance, also affects balance, proprioception, and performance. More research is needed to evaluate the benefits of flossband use on body movements and motor control. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of flossband on balance, proprioception, and performance, given its known impact on sports performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Ankle Instability
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Flossband; Other: Controlled Group

Detailed Description

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of exercises with flossband on balance, proprioception, and physical performance in the ankle.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-six football players were included in the study. As this was a serial group design the same football players were included in both the study group and the control group. There was a 72-hour break between the interventions for the study group and the control group. The study began with the study group. The study group received Flossband application while the control group received foam roller bandage application. The same exercises were conducted alongside both interventions. Measurements were taken before and after the interventions and exercises. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was evaluated using the weight-bearing lunge test, static balance using a smartphone application, dynamic balance using the Y-balance test, and proprioception using the joint position sense test. Additionally, the hop test was used to assess jumping performance.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Alanya
    • Antalya, Alanya, Turkey, 07450
      • Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18 and 25 years old.
• Engaged in regular football training for at least 3 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of fractures and surgeries in the lower extremities.
• Diagnosed with other ankle and lower extremity problems.
• Presence of pain in the ankle and lower extremities.
• Systemic conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and embolism.
• Experience of pain during any measurement.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Controlled Group; After the specified rest period, the football players were evaluated prior to the foam roller application. Seventy-two hours later, they were reassessed with the foam roller to measure the effectiveness of the application. This group was referred to as the 'Control Group.	Other: Controlled Group; Cramer Tape Underwrap (7cm X 27m) foam bandage was applied starting 5 cm below the ankle joint line without tension. The control group received the same exercise protocol as the study group.; Other Names: Sham
Active Comparator: Flossband Group; Our study began by applying flossband to the football players. The players were first assessed without the flossband, and then reassessed with the flossband to measure its effectiveness. This group was referred to as the 'Study Group.'	Other: Flossband; The use of Flossband (Sanctband COMPRE Floss 5.1 cm × 3.5 m; Sanct Japan Co., Ltd.), made of natural rubber, was applied starting from 5 cm below the ankle joint line with a 50% stretch. The band tension was increased to 70-75% around 2 cm above the attachment point of the Achilles tendon.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight Bearing Lunge Test	The ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was evaluated. Three tests were conducted for each participant, and the best score was recorded. Each assessment was performed before and after taping.	3 days
Static Balance Assesment	using the 'Accelerometer' application developed with Apple iPhone 14 and Dream Arc App Inventor, the static balance of football players was measured. Participants were instructed to stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Three trials were conducted, and the best score was recorded. The application recorded acceleration data in three axes (x, y, z) at a sampling rate of 20 Hz during the 30-second duration. Higher acceleration values indicated poorer balance.	3 days
Dynamic Balance Test	The Y balance test is a dynamic assessment widely used among athletes, requiring strength, flexibility, and proprioception, with good reliability. For the test, three equal-length strips of tape are placed on the floor to form a Y shape with angles of 90°, 135°, and 135° between them. The foot to be tested is placed at the intersection of the tapes, and the athlete is instructed to reach as far as possible in three different directions (anterior, posterolateral, posteromedial) while maintaining balance with the other foot. Football players attempted to reach maximum distance in each of these three directions, and these distances were recorded. The highest score from three successful reaches in each direction was normalized relative to leg length.Each assessment was performed before and after taping.	3 days
Proprioseptive Evaluation	When evaluating joint position sense, the football player was seated on a chair with their feet flat on the ground and eyes closed. Using a smartphone goniometer application, the range of motion of both ankles was measured. The tested ankle was passively moved into a dorsiflexion position of 10 degrees and then returned to its original position. The player was asked to actively replicate the same position with their foot, and the deviation from the target 10 degrees was recorded. This process was repeated three times, and the average deviation was calculated.Each assessment was performed before and after taping	3 days.
Triple Hop Test	This is a commonly used test for evaluating the functional abilities of the ankle and knee joints. The test measures the participant's balance, performance, and joint stability. A 6-meter scale is prepared, and the football player is instructed to stand on the assessed foot with arms by the sides and knees bent at a 45-degree angle in the starting position. The player is asked to perform three maximal forward jumps and land on the same line with the foot used for jumping. The distance between the heel and the starting point is measured, and the longest of two attempts is recorded.Each assessment was performed before and after taping	3 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 24, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 10, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 9, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Bandage; physical Functional performance; Floosband
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023/01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No