Kinesio Taping Effects on Balance and Ankle Proprioception

The Effect of Different Kinesio Tape Applications on Balance and Ankle Joint Position Sensation: A Randomised Controlled Study

Ankle injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries, affecting both athletes and the general population. Various methods are used to prevent such injuries, but the effectiveness of different kinesio taping applications on joint position sense and balance remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of different kinesio taping techniques on proprioception and postural stability in healthy young adults. By identifying changes in balance and proprioception before injuries occur, the findings may provide clinical insights into the potential role of kinesio taping in rehabilitation and injury prevention.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Ankle Injuries; Balanced
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Kinesio Taping 1; Other: Kinesio Taping 2; Other: Sham Kinesio Taping

Detailed Description

Ankle and foot injuries are among the most frequently observed musculoskeletal injuries, particularly in athletes and physically active individuals. Various preventive methods have been developed to reduce the risk of such injuries, including exercise programs, footwear modifications, and taping techniques. Kinesio taping (KT) is widely used to enhance proprioception, joint stability, and neuromuscular function, but its effectiveness in healthy young adults remains unclear.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of different kinesio taping applications on joint position sense and balance in healthy young adults. The ankle-foot complex is rich in mechanoreceptors and plays a crucial role in movement and postural control. However, proprioceptive deficits and balance impairments contribute to the risk of injuries such as chronic ankle instability (CAI) and lateral ankle sprains. While several studies have investigated the effects of KT in injured populations, research on its impact on proprioception and balance in uninjured individuals is lacking.

By analyzing changes in balance and proprioception among healthy participants, this study will provide valuable insights into the potential role of kinesio taping in injury prevention. Understanding these effects before an injury occurs could help refine rehabilitation strategies and improve clinical decision-making regarding the use of kinesio taping for both prevention and post-injury treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Yasemin Şahbaz; Phone Number: 05455649695; Email: yaseminsahbaz@beykent.edu.tr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Ali ILEZ; Phone Number: 05050275038; Email: aliilez156@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Büyükçekmece
    • İ̇stanbul, Büyükçekmece, Turkey
      • Recruiting
      • Istanbul Beykent University Physiotherapy Lab.
      • Contact: Oğuz Önalan; Phone Number: +904441977; Email: oğuzonalan@beykent.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: Participants must be between 18-25 years old.
• General Health: Participants must be generally healthy individuals, with no previously diagnosed chronic health conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, or history of injuries.
• Ankle Health: No ankle injuries or surgical interventions in the past six months.
• Informed Consent: Participants must voluntarily agree to participate and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of Injuries: Any lower extremity injury (ankle or knee) within the past year.
• Neurological Disorders: Any neurological condition that may affect balance or proprioception.
• Other Health Conditions: Presence of chronic diseases such as rheumatic diseases, diabetes, or musculoskeletal disorders that could impact the study outcomes.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Kinesio Taping Application 1; Participants in this group will receive Kinesio Taping Application 1, a specific taping technique applied to the ankle. The intervention aims to assess its effects on joint position sense and balance over four time points: before application, immediately after, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later.	Other: Kinesio Taping 1; A specific Kinesio taping technique applied to the ankle to evaluate its effects on joint position sense and balance.
Experimental: Kinesio Taping Application 2; Participants in this group will receive Kinesio Taping Application 2, a different taping technique applied to the ankle. The study will evaluate its impact on proprioception and postural stability over the same four time points.	Other: Kinesio Taping 2; A different Kinesio taping technique applied to the ankle to assess its impact on proprioception and postural stability.
Placebo Comparator: Sham Taping (Placebo Comparator); Participants in this group will receive a sham Kinesio taping application, which mimics the appearance of real taping but is applied without therapeutic tension or functional support. This group will serve as a placebo control to assess whether the effects observed in the experimental groups are due to the taping method or a placebo effect.	Other: Sham Kinesio Taping; A placebo taping application that mimics the real Kinesio tape placement but lacks therapeutic tension or functional support, serving as a control condition to evaluate the true effects of the experimental interventions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Joint Position Sense Accuracy	This outcome will assess participants' ability to accurately reproduce a predefined ankle position. A smaller error in joint position replication indicates improved proprioception.	1 months
Balance Performance (Postural Stability)	Participants will perform the SEBT, where they must reach as far as possible in multiple directions while maintaining balance. The total reach distance will be recorded, and improvements indicate enhanced postural stability.	1 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Balance Performance Over Time	The progression of balance performance will be analyzed over multiple time points to determine how long the taping effects persist.	1 months
Proprioception Retention Effect	Comparison between Immediately After, 24 Hours, and 48 Hours Post-Application	1 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Beykent
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yasemin ŞAHBAZ, Istanbul Beykent University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 24, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Ankle Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: UBeykent-11

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Due to privacy concerns and institutional policies, individual-level data collected during this study will not be made publicly available. However, summary results and statistical analyses will be shared through scientific publications and conference presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

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