The effect of long-term use of ankle taping on balance

1. The effect of long-term use of ankle taping on balance Stephanie McGregor Dr. Mike Pavol Exercise and Sports Science Oregon State University HHMI 2011

2. Background • Ankle sprains are most common injury amongst college athletes • Many athletes continue to tape as preventative measure • Shown to reduce ankle sprains by up to 50%

3. How does taping help? • Mechanical support • Psychological benefits • Enhanced proprioception • Ability to sense a joint’s position • Leads to improved balancing performance • Direct effects on balance remain unclear

4. Components of Balance Increased proprioception helps improve balance

5. Significance • Review of literature shows little research done studying the effects of long term use of taping • Determine if the effects of taping on ankle proprioception and balance continue to be significant over time

6. Use of new information • Make more informed decisions about the best treatment plan for athletes suffering a sprained ankle • Better evaluate the practicality of regularly taping ankles

7. Question • How does the long term use of ankle taping effect balance?

8. Hypothesis • Ankle taping will have a larger effect on the balance of the participants who do not regularly tape • Body becomes acclimatized to the tape, such that the benefits decrease with long-term use • Effects of taping on balancing ability will vary depending on the condition being tested

9. Methods • 16 NCAA gymnasts are being tested • Balance plays a large role in this sport • Approximately half ‘tapers’ and the other half ‘non-tapers’ Gymnast who regularly tapes her ankle

10. Single leg balance test • With hands on hips • Three 30 second trials performed for each of the 4 conditions

11. Testing conditions • Closed eyes removes visual cues • Increases reliance on proprioception • 2 inch thick block of foam between the foot and force platform Foampad to make balancing more difficult

12. Conditions

13. Force Plate • Used to examine balancing ability • Forces used to calculate the motion of the center of pressure (COP)

14. Center of Pressure • Average location of the force acting between the foot and the ground • Less movement of COP equates to better balance

15. Center of Mass • Less movement of COM equates to better balance

16. Data Analysis Force plate • Compare how far and how fast COP and COM moved • Side to side (M/L) • Forward to backward (A/P) COP trajectory

17. Data Analysis • Stabilogram diffusion coefficient Collings & De Luca, Chaos 5 (1), 1995 p59

18. Greater COP A/P motion with taping Non-tapers Tapers Similar results for COM A/P motion

19. Greater COP A/P velocity with taping and in non-tapers Non-tapers Tapers

20. Greater short term slope with taping Non-tapers Tapers Similar results for critical displacement with eyes closed

21. Greater short term slope in non-tapers than tapers when eyes closed Non-tapers Tapers

22. Changes in COP M/L motion with taping when eyes closed

23. Discussion • Contrary to hypothesis, tape negatively affects balance, regardless of group • Long-term tapers showed balancing differences in the A/P direction and with eyes closed • Slower corrections to balance made

24. Discussion • Further investigation needed • For preliminary data only, not all subjects have been tested yet • Worthwhile to investigate alternatives to ankle taping

25. Acknowledgements Special thanks to: • Dr. Mike Pavol • Deb Graff • Study participants • Elizabeth Doran • Sam Johnson • Dr. Kevin Ahern • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) • Undergraduate Research and Innovation, Scholarship and Creativity (URISC)