The Effect of Taping on Plantar Pressure Distribution in Players With Chronic Ankle Instability

The goal of this study is to investigate whether there exists a difference in baropdometric readings of plantar pressure between individuals with chronic ankle instability and normal health individuals, in addition another goal of this study is to investigate the effect of rigid taping vs. kinesio taping on plantar pressure distribution as well as stability markers in individuals with chronic ankle instability.

The main questions aimed to answer are:

1. Is there a difference in plantar pressure distribution between individuals with chronic ankle instability and individuals without chronic ankle instability?
2. What effect do rigid and kinesio taping have on plantar pressure distribution and ankle stability markers?
3. Which tape affects plantar pressure distribution and ankle stability better?

Participants will:

Firstly be divided into two macro groups, one with chronic ankle instability and one without, with an observational part of the study to be carried out to investigate the differences in plantar pressure between both groups.

Secondly, the group with chronic ankle instability will be divided into two micro groups one receiving rigid taping and the other receiving kinesio taping, and the immediate effects of these tapes in terms of plantar pressure and ankle stability will be recorded and compared before and after within groups, and after between both groups.

Basketball players frequently suffer from lateral ankle sprains and multiple repetitions can cause chronic ankle instability. The authors contend that professional basketball can no longer be regarded as a noncontact sport because of the rising rate of injuries to players in the league. An orthopedic strapping treatment for the foot called rigid taping involves applying tape along the plantar part of the foot and inferior to the malleoli.

Another type of taping method gives the musculoskeletal system external support, kinesio-taping has long been employed in the rehabilitation and prevention of sports-related injuries in athletes and sports participants. The goal of an anti-pronation taping technique is to constrain an overpronated foot by offering temporary external support.

Thus the aim of this study is to determine the immediate effects of rigid taping versus kinesio-taping on static and dynamic plantar pressure distribution in basketball players with chronic ankle instability. An explanation of the procedure and a written consent form will be provided, and the assessment will be taken at the beginning of the spring semester of 2024/2025 for inclusion and exclusion. Then the CAIT will be used followed by assigning the participants into a healthy group and an injured group for the observational part and collecting the data on the injured foot. Then further randomly divided the injured group into AP, LD, and a control group. Application of the interventions will be done to the affected foot and sham tape will be applied to the control group then the effects will be observed and the measurements will be noted and compared to the previous data. The CAIT will be used again to observe the differences that may result. The study will take place at Mousawat Institution.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* A history of at least 1 significant ankle sprain
* The initial sprain must have occurred at least 12 months before study enrollment
* A history of the previously injured ankle joint "giving way" and/or recurrent sprain and/or "feelings of instability."
* Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool: score of 24 or less

Exclusion Criteria:

* A history of previous surgeries to the musculoskeletal structures (i.e., bones, joint structures, nerves) in either lower extremity
* A history of a fracture in either lower extremity requiring realignment
* Acute injury to musculoskeletal structures of other joints of the lower extremity in the previous 3 months that impacted joint integrity and function (i.e., sprains, fracture) resulting in at least 1 interrupted day of desired physical activity.