Can Kinesio Tape Alter the Cutting Kinematics in Female Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability?

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Corrective Exercise & Sport Injury, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Sports Medicine, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) often occurs after ankle sprains and involves impaired neuromuscular control. Cutting maneuvers, common in many sports, may increase ankle injury risk. Kinesio taping (KT) is used to enhance joint stability and proprioception, but its effect on lower‑extremity kinematics during cutting is unclear. This study investigated the effect of KT on cutting kinematics in female athletes with FAI.
Methods: This controlled pre–post intervention study was conducted in April and May 2024 on 28 female athletes, including 14 with functional ankle instability (FAI) and 14 healthy controls, at the laboratory of the Sport Sciences Research Institute in Tehran, Iran. Research tools included the Persian validated Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) for participant classification, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and body mass index), and a 3-dimensional motion analysis system (Kestrel, 10 cameras) with Cortex software to record lower-extremity kinematic data. Kinematic data for the ankle, knee, and hip joints across all three anatomical planes were extracted specifically at the time frame corresponding to the peak frontal plane knee valgus during the stance phase of the cutting maneuver. The intervention consisted of Kinesio taping applied according to the John Gibbons technique before the post-test phase. Sample size was estimated using G*Power software (v.3.1.9.4). Statistical analysis was performed using the independent t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA, with the significance level set at P < 0.05.
Results: KT did not significantly affect lower extremity kinematics such as hip flexion (pre: -38.02±12.37, post: -34.56±12.33, P=0.30), knee flexion (pre: 50.28±7.26, post: 49.17±7.07, P=0.430), and ankle flexion (pre: -95.37±4.18, post: -93.50±5.31, P=0.320) angles in both groups. Only the effect of Kinesio tape on the knee abduction angle was statistically significant (pre: 3.74±1.8, post: 4.82±0.13 P=0.008).
Conclusions: It appears that the effect of Kinesio tape during cutting maneuvers is not substantial enough to alter the movement kinematics in individuals with FAI. Therefore, Kinesio tape is not recommended for injury prevention or performance enhancement in athletes with ankle sprains.

Highlights

Rahman Sheikhhoseini: (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References

  1. Halabchi F, Hassabi M. Acute ankle sprain in athletes: Clinical aspects and algorithmic approach. World J Orthop. 2020;11(12):534-58. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v11.i12.534. PubMed PMID: 33362991; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7745493. ##
  2. Hakimi Poor M, Rajabi R, Alizadeh MH, Zandi S. Kinematic Changes of the Lower Limb in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability During Unilateral Landing Tasks: A Systematic Review. Physical Treatments. 2022;12(3):133-146. doi: 10.32598/ptj.12.3.281.1. ##
  3. Kalantariyan M, Minoonejad H, Rajabi R, Seidi F. Effects of Functional Ankle Instability on Balance Recovery Strategy in Athletes. Physical Treatments. 2018;8(2):99-106. doi: 10.32598/ptj.8.2.99. ##
  4. Hertel J, Corbett RO. An Updated Model of Chronic Ankle Instability. J Athl Train. 2019;54(6):572-588. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-344-18. PubMed PMID: 31162943; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6602403. ##
  5. Leibbrandt DC, Louw QA. The test retest reliability of gait outcomes in subjects with anterior knee pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018;22(2):476-481. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.05.011. PubMed PMID: 29861253. ##
  6. Zhou W, Qi Y, Liu M, Hsiao C, Wang L. Effect of foot strike patterns and cutting angles on knee kinematics and kinetics during side-cutting maneuvers. Acta Bioeng Biomech. 2023;25(1):27-34. PubMed PMID: 38314549. ##
  7. Mornieux G, Gehring D, Gollhofer A. Is There a Sex Difference in Trunk Neuromuscular Control among Recreational Athletes during Cutting Maneuvers? J Sports Sci Med. 2021;20(4):743-750. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2021.743. PubMed PMID: 35321132; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8488842. ##
  8. Sundberg A, Högberg J, Tosarelli F, Buckthorpe M, Della Villa F, Hägglund M, et al. Sport-Specific Injury Mechanisms and Situational Patterns of ACL Injuries: A Comprehensive Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2025;55(10):2489-2527. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02271-w. PubMed PMID: 40690162; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12513954. ##
  9. Gao M, Ge X, Tao Y, Suo L, Ren S, Ao Y. Biomechanical Compensation Patterns Across Different Phases of Side-Cutting Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Bioengineering. 2025;12(12):1280. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering12121280. PubMed PMID: 41463577; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12730016. ##
  10. Rivera MJ, Winkelmann ZK, Powden CJ, Games KE. Proprioceptive Training for the Prevention of Ankle Sprains: An Evidence-Based Review. J Athl Train. 2017;52(11):1065-1067. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-52.11.16. PubMed PMID: 29140127; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5737043. ##
  11.  Zuo H, Zhang M, Chen P, Wang L, Diao L, Zhang L. Is Kinesio taping an effective approach for acute ankle sprains? A systematic review and meta-analysis. EFORT Open Rev. 2026;11(4):250-258. doi: 10.1530/EOR-2025-0034. PubMed PMID: 41945586; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC13087871. ##
  12. Kase K, Wallis J, Kase T. Clinical Therapeutic Applications of the Kinesio Taping® Method. USA: Dallas; 2003. ##
  13. Bocchino G, Grassa D, Bove A, Salvini M, Kaplan R, Di Gialleonardo E, et al. The Effects of Kinesio Tape on Acute Ankle Sprain: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2025;14(5):1440. doi: 10.3390/jcm14051440. PubMed PMID: 40094902; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11900455. ##
  14. Wei Y, Xu D, Zhou Z, Qu X, Baker JS, Xiang L, et al. The effects of kinesiology taping on joint stability during descending stairs in patients with acute ankle injuries. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025;17(1):271. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01321-0. PubMed PMID: 40999475; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12462316. ##
  15. Nunes GS, Feldkircher JM, Tessarin BM, Bender PU, da Luz CM, de Noronha M. Kinesio taping does not improve ankle functional or performance in people with or without ankle injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2021;35(2):182-199. doi: 10.1177/0269215520963846. PubMed PMID: 33081510. ##
  16. Chang CL, Lin HY, Tseng YT, Pan CY, Chen FC, Tsai CL. Immediate effects of kinesiology taping on proprioception and functional performance in collegiate athletes with chronic ankle instability: evidence from event-related potentials. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025;18(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01468-w. PubMed PMID: 41388440; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12903724. ##
  17. Lin CC, Chen SJ, Lee WC, Lin CF. Effects of Different Ankle Supports on the Single-Leg Lateral Drop Landing Following Muscle Fatigue in Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(10):3438. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103438. PubMed PMID: 32423151; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7277185. ##
  18. Botsis AE, Schwarz NA, Harper ME, Liu W, Rooney CA, Gurchiek LR, et al. Effect of Kinesio(®) Taping on Ankle Complex Motion and Stiffness and Jump Landing Time to Stabilization in Female Ballet Dancers. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2019;4(2):19. doi: 10.3390/jfmk4020019. PubMed PMID: 33467334; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7739296. ##
  19. Liu Q, Wang L, Dai F, Wang G, Chen P. Effects of ankle kinesio taping on knee and ankle joint biomechanics during unanticipated jumps in collegiate athletes.
  20. Abdelraouf OR, Abdel-Aziem AA. Ankle and foot mechanics in individuals with chronic ankle instability during shod walking and barefoot walking: A cross-sectional study. Chin J Traumatol. 2021;24(3):174-179. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2021.02.010. PubMed PMID: 33757697; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8173573. ##
  21. Hiller CE, Refshauge KM, Bundy AC, Herbert RD, Kilbreath SL. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool: a report of validity and reliability testing.
  22. Geerinck A, Beaudart C, Salvan Q, Van Beveren J, D’Hooghe P, Bruyère O, et al. French translation and validation of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, an instrument for measuring functional ankle instability. Foot Ankle Surg. 2020;26(4):391-397. doi: 10.1016/j.fas.2019.05.002. PubMed PMID: 31118138. ##
  23. Haji-Maghsoudi M, Naseri N, Nouri-Zadeh S, Jalayi S. Evidence of Reliability for Persian Version of the “Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT)” in Iranian Athletes with lateral Ankle Sprain. Archives of Rehabilitation. 2016;16(4):304-311. Persian. ##
  24. Vijittrakarnrung C, Mongkolpichayaruk A, Limroongreungrat W, Chuckpaiwong B. Comparison of Foot Kinematics Between Normal Arch and Flexible Flatfoot Using the Oxford Foot Model: A Matched Case-Control Study. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2024;9(1):24730114241231245. doi: 10.1177/24730114241231245. PubMed PMID: 38410138; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10896060. ##
  25. Aziminia M, Abbasi A. Comparing Trunk and Lower Extremity Kinematic Variables during Side-Cutting Maneuver in Healthy and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructed Athletes. Journal of Sport Biomechanics. 2022;8(1):50-64. doi: 10.52547/JSportBiomech.8.1.3. ##
  1. Yang C, Wei L, Huang X, Tu L, Xu Y, Li X, et al. Comparison of lower limb kinematic and kinetic estimation during athlete jumping between markerless and marker-based motion capture systems. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):18552. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-02739-9. PubMed PMID: 40425708; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12117081. ##
  2. Gibbons J. A practical guide to kinesiology taping for injury prevention and medical conditions. 3rd ed. Chichester, England: Lotus Publishing; 2024. ##
  3. Parreira PCS, Costa LCM, Hespanhol Jr LC, Lopes AD, Costa LOP. Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2014;60(1):31-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.008. PubMed PMID: 24856938. ##
  4. Yu R, Shi X, Yang Z, El-Ansary D, Adams R, Waddington G, et al. Kinesiology taping length and dynamic balance control in individuals with chronic ankle instability.
  5. Kim H, Son SJ, Seeley MK, Hopkins JT. Altered movement strategies during jump landing/cutting in patients with chronic ankle instability. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2019;29(8):1130-1140. doi: 10.1111/sms.13445. PubMed PMID: 31050053. ##
  6. Koshino Y, Yamanaka M, Ezawa Y, Ishida T, Kobayashi T, Samukawa M, et al. Lower limb joint motion during a cross cutting movement differs in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability. Phys Ther Sport. 2014;15(4):242-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2013.12.001. PubMed PMID: 24618282. ##
  7. Shadegani R, Khanmohammadi R, Olyaei G. Comparison of effects of Mulligan taping and Kinesio taping on ankle neuromuscular control in response to a sudden inversion perturbation in individuals with chronic ankle instability. Phys Ther Sport. 2023;63:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.07.004. PubMed PMID: 37506655. ##
  8. Ataullah MG, Kapoor G, Alghadir AH, Khan M. Effects of kinesio taping on hip abductor muscle strength and electromyography activity in athletes with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2021;53(6):jrm00204. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2845. PubMed PMID: 34013356; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8814865. ##
  9. Wang X, Quan W, Ma Y, Jozsef S, Fang Y, Gu Y. The Biomechanical Effects of Kinesiology Taping Methods on Side-Step Cutting Movements in Chronic Ankle Instability. Healthcare (Basel). 2024;12(24):2561. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12242561. PubMed PMID: 39765987; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11675757. ##
  10. Dejong AF, Koldenhoven RM, Hertel J. Proximal Adaptations in Chronic Ankle Instability: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020;52(7):1563-1575. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002282. PubMed PMID: 31977639. ##
  11. Lin CC, Lee WC, Chen JC, Chen SJ, Lin CF. The Influence of Kinesio Tape and an Ankle Brace on the Lower Extremity Joint Motion in Fatigued, Unstable Ankles during a Lateral Drop Landing. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(11):6081. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18116081. PubMed PMID: 34200005; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8200217. ##
  12. Son SJ, Kim H, Seeley MK, Hopkins JT. Movement Strategies among Groups of Chronic Ankle Instability, Coper, and Control. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(8):1649-1661. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001255. PubMed PMID: 28350716. ##
  13. Simpson JD, Stewart EM, Macias DM, Chander H, Knight AC. Individuals with chronic ankle instability exhibit dynamic postural stability deficits and altered unilateral landing biomechanics: A systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2019;37:210-219. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.06.003. PubMed PMID: 29914742. ##
  14. Liu C, Peng W, Qu W, Zhang Z, Sun J, He J, et al. Gender differences in the impact of fatigue on lower limb landing biomechanics and their association with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2025;20(5):e0321925. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321925. PubMed PMID: 40334188; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12058186. ##
  15. Uzlasir S, Tayfur B, Işıkdemir E, Tayfur A. Comparison of muscle activation and proprioception during landing at different angles between individuals with chronic ankle instability and healthy controls.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics