Does ankle tape improve proprioception acuity immediately after application and following a netball session? A randomised controlled trial. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smyth, Erin; Waddington, Gordon; Witchalls, Jeremy; Newman, Phillip; Weissensteiner, Juanita; Hughes, Steven; Niyonsenga, Theo; Drew, Michael
• Is Part Of: Physical therapy in sport. Volume 48(2021)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Ankle -- Tape -- Proprioception; Sports physical therapy -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- diagnosis -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; 615.82088796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.12.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-853X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To assess whether ankle tape applied by a Sport and Exercise Physiotherapist (SEP) or self-applied by the athlete results in a change in proprioception and whether it is maintained during a netball session. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Australian Institute of Sport. Participants: 53 pre-elite netball athletes. Main outcome measures: Athlete proprioception was assessed using the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA) on four occasions for each taping condition: 1) pre-tape, 2) post-tape, 3) post-netball & 4) post-netball no-tape. Results: Mixed effect linear models were used for analysis. A significant increase in proprioception was observed when self-tape: 0.022 (95% CI: [-0.000 – 0.044], p = 0.05), and SEP tape: 0.034 (95% CI: [0.012–0.055], p < 0.01), were initially applied. These improvements were maintained during a netball session for both, self-taping: 0.01 (95% CI: [-0.01 – 0.02], p = 0.45) and SEP-taping: <0.01 (95% CI: [-0.02 – 0.01], p = 0.56). Results also indicate there was no significant difference between taping conditions ( β = −0.001, 95% CI: [-0.02 – 0.02], p = 0.90). Conclusions: Proprioception improves and is maintained during a netball session with either SEP or self-applied taping. Highlights: Proprioception improves following the application of ankle tape Improved proprioception is maintained during a netball session with ankle tape There is no difference between Sport and Exercise Physiotherapist applied tape and self-applied tape