The measured effect of taping on combined foot and ankle motion before and after exercise

Abstract

The Inman ankle machine was modified to determine plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion neutral, eversion neutral, plantarflexion inversion, and plantarflexion eversion before taping, immediately after taping, and with tape after a 2.5- to 3-hour football practice. The previously uninjured feet and ankles of 16 college- age football players were used. All were taped by the same method. A single-tailed paired-sample t-test was done to determine the minimum amount of restriction that could be expected for each motion after the exercise period. Ninety percent confidence intervals between untaped versus taped preexercise, untaped versus taped postexercise, and taped preexercise versus taped postexercise for all motions were determined. Inversion neutral, plantarflexion inversion, and ever sion neutral had an average residual restriction after exercise of 50%, or greater than the initial restriction prior to exercise. Plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, and plantarflexion eversion loosened significantly greater than 50%.