The effect of kinesiology tape on ankle balance abilities: A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport
• Main Author: Jalaludin N.; Ismail A.D.; Kamaruddin H.K.; Aznan E.A.M.; Bakar A.H.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editura Universitatii din Pitesti 2022
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85143493868&doi=10.7752%2fjpes.2022.11349&partnerID=40&md5=7500592bb3acbffd0a95884507a8db9e

An ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries and is often associated with the instability of the ankle, which limits the range of motion (ROM) and affects balance abilities. Thus, treating and preventing ankle sprain or chronic ankle instability is crucial. Kinesiology tape (KT) is an elastic tape that is widely used to support and stabilize the ankle joints and muscles without restricting the ROM. There is a limited study on reviewing the effect of the application of KT on ankles improving balance abilities, focusing on the taping technique and duration of application. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to review the existing literature on evaluating the effectiveness of kinesiology tape, its application technique, and duration. A search was conducted in electronic databases (Scopus and Web of Science) from 2011 to 2021 using the terms “kinesiology tape”, “ankle”, and “balance”. A total of 15 articles were selected from 68 total articles. The results of each study were summarized and compared. As a result, 13 articles showed significant improvement in KT application in individuals with and without ankle instability. Hence, it is recommended that the ankle-balance taping (ABT) technique and lateral ankle sprain-taping technique are both used in individuals with and without ankle instability. Moreover, it is suggested that the KT application for individuals with ankle instability is used for more than 24 hours while individuals without ankle instability just use it immediately before performing activities. This indicated that the KT application will help in treating and preventing ankle injuries in individuals with and without ankle instability. This systematic review provides evidence that KT application has advantages with balance abilities in individuals with and without ankle instability, based on previous and current studies. © JPES.