THE EFFECTS OF ANKLE TAPING ON PROPRIOCEPTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Objectives: to look for the evidence to support or challenge the use of ankle taping as a prophylactic measure or in the treatment of ankle injuries was undertaken. Methods and Material: The literature search was carried out using three databases: PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (Pedro) and the Cochrane Library. The search was limited to articles published from 1985 to 2005 in the English language. The search terms used were: “ankle tape” or “ankle taping” combined with “proprioception” or “proprioceptive” or “joint position sense” or “kinaesthesia” or “postural sway” or “peroneal reaction time” or “peroneal latency”. Three independent trained physiotherapists were asked to review each article according to the review criteria of the Pedro Database. The reliability of Pedro scale rating is reported elsewhere [1]. All reviewers were provided with a data sheet for each article, containing the eleven Pedro criteria. Accordingly, each publication was evaluated and received a rating from 0 to 10. After the rating procedure, a consensus meeting was held where the reviewers could exchange their opinions where disagreement existed with respect to the ratings. Results: A total of 89 references were identified from the searches. Through a number of selection procedures, only nine papers were withheld for rating. The Pedro rating scales ranged from 3.3 to 5.7 (mean) and from 3 to 6 (modus). No real randomized controlled studies were found. With respect to the measurements of proprioception, peroneal reaction time after sudden movement (inversion of plantar flexion or a combination of both) was measured in six of the studies, whereas movement reproduction or detection were used in two. Only one of the selected reports dealt with postural sway as a measure of proprioception. Five studies reported that ankle tape had no effect on the proprioception measurements, in one study a decrease in postural sway was found before exercise but no differences were observed after exercise, two referred that ankle tape may influence positively proprioception and consequently the ankle dynamic stability and, one publication found a delayed peroneal reaction time with ankle tape. Discussion: As it is evidenced in this systematic review there is no extensive collection of studies investigating the effects of ankle tape on proprioception available. Better-designed, randomised controlled trials with higher methodological quality are required come to conclusive results on the effects of ankle taping on proprioception. 1. Maher, C.G., et al., Reliability of the PEDro scale for rating quality of randomized controlled trials. Phys Ther, 2003. 83(8): p. 713-21.