Effectiveness of Taping and Bracing in Balance

Taping and bracing are thought to be effective methods in restricting the ankle's joint motion and assisting prevention of injuries. Research evidence suggests that taping and bracing enhance both the mechanical support and the proprioception of the ankle However, there is little research conce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Perceptual and motor skills 2002-04, Vol.94 (2), p.566-574
Main Authors: Barkoukis, Vassilis, Sykaras, Evaggelos, Costa, Frosoula, Tsorbatzoudis, Haralambos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Ankle Joint - physiology
Athletes
Bandages
Braces
Female
Humans
Injuries
Joints
Male
Motor ability
Postural Balance - physiology
Prevention
Range of Motion, Articular - physiology
Sports - physiology
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Summary:Taping and bracing are thought to be effective methods in restricting the ankle's joint motion and assisting prevention of injuries. Research evidence suggests that taping and bracing enhance both the mechanical support and the proprioception of the ankle However, there is little research concerning the influence of taping and bracing on sport performance. Research has mainly examined tasks with demands on the frontal plane. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of taping and bracing on the performance of a task with demands on the frontal plane. A sample of 30 physical education students (Mage =21.9 yr.) performed a balance task requiring estimation of balance and both right and left deviations. The subjects performed the balance task on four different conditions, with tape, with Swede-O (a lace-up, boot style stabilizer), with Aircast (an inflatable cast), and without any stabilizer. There were no significant differences among the conditions. These findings indicate that taping and bracing do not have negative effects on balance in the frontal plane. This study created concerns regarding the appropriate stabilizer for different tasks, bilateral coordination after the application of a stabilizer, and the influence of psychological factors on prevention of injury.
ISSN:0031-5125
1558-688X
DOI:10.2466/pms.2002.94.2.566