Has Kinesio Tape Effects on Ankle Proprioception? A Randomized Clinical Trial

Headnote

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To establish whether Kinesio tape (Kt) on the ankle improves joint position sense (JPS) immediately after its application and after 48 hours wearing it.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial

Setting: Motion analysis laboratory

Participants: Sixty-eight volunteers randomly assigned to the control (n = 33) or the intervention (n = 35) group, which received ankle Kt.

Main outcome measures: JPS was assessed through the Difference of Error (DE) and the Deviation of the Target Angle (DTA). JPS was assessed before the Kt was placed, immediately after and 48 hours later, wearing the tape all this period. T-test two-sided and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare DE between groups and Chi-square test was performed to assess DTA.

Results: Forty-eight hours after application of the Kt, 10° plantarflexion worsened in the intervention group and improved in the control (p = 0.041). For other positions there were no significant differences. Neutral was the most accurately reproduced position.

Conclusion: Kt had no significant effect on ankle JPS in healthy individuals. Kt is not justified as a prevention technique or when improving proprioception is the rehabilitation aim.

Key Words: ankle lateral ligament, athletic tape, position sense, sprains and strains, Kinesio Tape, proprioception.

INTRODUCTION

Kinesio tape (Kt) has strongly been introduced in sports and therapeutic domain, but the scientific community still discuss its efficacy. This waterproof tape was designed imitating the characteristics of the human skin in terms of weight and thickness by Kenzo Kase in 1973. Despite the controversy over the scientific evidence for its effectiveness, this trendy tape is commonly used with several aims like improvement of local circulation (3), pain reduction (14), muscle facilitation or relaxation (28) and increase of joint function and stability (7,16). The Kt properties last for 3 to 5 days before the elastic polymer qualities diminish and it is recommended to remain on the skin for at least these days (18,19). The Kt action mechanism on proprioception is still not well established. As it is an elastic adhesive tape, Kt does not limit functional performance (4) and may enhance functional stability through proprioception and muscle activation rather than mechanical support (5). The mechanism responsible for improving proprioception when the Kt is applied could be the stimulation of the cutaneous exteroreceptors (13).