Effects of Rigid and Kinesio Taping on Balance and Performance in Chronic Ankle Instability (FAST-CAI)

May 30, 2026 updated by: Onur Atakan Sekibağ, Istanbul Nisantasi University

Immediate and Fatigue-Related Effects of Rigid and Kinesio Subtalar Sling Taping on Dynamic Balance, Proprioception, and Functional Performance in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether rigid subtalar sling taping or kinesio subtalar sling taping can improve balance, proprioception, and functional performance in physically active adults with chronic ankle instability. It will also evaluate whether these taping methods help maintain performance after fatigue.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Do rigid and kinesio subtalar sling taping improve dynamic balance compared with sham taping?
  • Do rigid and kinesio subtalar sling taping improve ankle joint position sense and functional performance compared with sham taping?
  • Which taping method is more effective in preserving performance following a fatigue protocol?

Researchers will compare rigid subtalar sling taping, kinesio subtalar sling taping, and sham taping to determine their effects on balance, proprioception, and functional performance before and after fatigue.

Participants will:

  • Complete questionnaires related to ankle instability and sport function.
  • Undergo dynamic balance testing using the Y-Balance Test.
  • Perform functional performance tests including the Single-Leg Hop Test, Side Hop Test, and Figure-of-8 Hop Test.
  • Complete an ankle joint position sense assessment.
  • Receive either rigid subtalar sling taping, kinesio subtalar sling taping, or sham taping.
  • Perform a standardized fatigue protocol.
  • Repeat all outcome assessments immediately after taping, after fatigue, and following a short recovery period.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common long-term consequence of lateral ankle sprains and is characterized by recurrent episodes of ankle giving way, sensorimotor deficits, impaired postural control, and reduced functional performance. Individuals with CAI frequently demonstrate deficits in dynamic balance and proprioception, which may increase the risk of recurrent injury and negatively affect sports participation and physical activity.

External ankle support strategies are commonly used in clinical rehabilitation and sports medicine to enhance joint stability and improve functional outcomes. Among these strategies, rigid taping and kinesio taping are widely applied. Rigid taping primarily aims to restrict excessive joint motion and provide mechanical support, whereas kinesio taping is believed to facilitate neuromuscular function through cutaneous stimulation and enhanced sensory feedback. Although previous studies have reported beneficial effects of taping interventions, the comparative effectiveness of these approaches under fatigue conditions remains insufficiently understood.

Fatigue is considered an important factor influencing injury risk because it may impair neuromuscular control, proprioceptive acuity, and postural stability. Since many ankle sprains occur during the later stages of sports participation when fatigue is present, evaluating the effectiveness of taping interventions under fatigue conditions may provide clinically meaningful information for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

This study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group controlled trial. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive rigid subtalar sling taping, kinesio subtalar sling taping, or sham taping. Assessments will be conducted at multiple time points to investigate both immediate responses to taping and responses following a standardized fatigue protocol.

The primary objective of the study is to determine whether rigid or kinesio subtalar sling taping can improve sensorimotor and functional characteristics in individuals with chronic ankle instability and whether these effects are maintained following fatigue. The study also aims to compare the relative effectiveness of the two taping approaches and to identify potential advantages of mechanical versus sensorimotor support strategies.

The findings of this trial may contribute to evidence-based decision making regarding taping applications in sports rehabilitation, injury prevention, and return-to-sport management for individuals with chronic ankle instability.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 35 years.
  • Physically active individuals participating in physical activity at least three times per week.
  • History of at least one significant lateral ankle sprain.
  • Self-reported episodes of ankle giving way, recurrent sprains, or feelings of instability during the previous six months.
  • Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score ≤24.
  • Ability to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute lower-extremity injury within the previous three months.
  • Previous lower-extremity fracture requiring surgical management.
  • History of lower-extremity surgery.
  • Vestibular, neurological, or systemic disorders affecting balance, movement, or proprioception.
  • Current musculoskeletal pain that limits participation in testing procedures.
  • Known allergy or sensitivity to adhesive tape materials.
  • Participation in another rehabilitation or intervention study during the study period.
  • Inability to complete the fatigue protocol or functional performance assessments safely.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rigid Subtalar Sling Taping
Participants will receive rigid subtalar sling taping applied by a trained investigator prior to performance testing and the fatigue protocol.
Other: Rigid Subtalar Sling Taping
A rigid athletic tape application designed to provide mechanical support to the subtalar and ankle joints and restrict excessive motion associated with chronic ankle instability.
Experimental: Kinesio Subtalar Sling Taping
Participants will receive kinesio subtalar sling taping applied by a trained investigator prior to performance testing and the fatigue protocol.
Other: Kinesio Subtalar Sling Taping
A kinesiology tape application designed to enhance sensorimotor feedback and improve neuromuscular control without substantially restricting ankle motion.
Sham Comparator: Sham Taping
Participants will receive a sham taping application that does not provide mechanical support or intended sensorimotor facilitation prior to performance testing and the fatigue protocol.
Other: Sham Taping
A placebo taping application intended to mimic taping procedures without providing meaningful mechanical support or sensorimotor enhancement.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Y-Balance Test Composite Score
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery (approximately 30 minutes)
Dynamic balance performance measured using the Y-Balance Test composite score. Changes in composite reach distance will be compared between groups across all assessment time points.
Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery (approximately 30 minutes)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ankle Joint Position Sense Error
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Ankle proprioception assessed by active joint position sense error measured in degrees.
Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Single-Leg Hop Distance
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Functional performance assessed by maximum hop distance during the Single-Leg Hop Test.
Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Side Hop Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Functional performance assessed by completion time during the Side Hop Test.
Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Figure-of-8 Hop Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery
Functional performance assessed by completion time during the Figure-of-8 Hop Test.
Baseline, immediately after taping, immediately after fatigue, and after recovery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Nisantasi University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Onur Atakan Sekibağ, PT, MSc, PhD(c), Istanbul Nişantaşı University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 30, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • OASTaping

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data sharing has not yet been determined. Data sharing plans will be evaluated after study completion in accordance with institutional policies, ethical considerations, participant consent, and applicable data protection regulations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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