ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of taping on the kinematic characteristics of the ankle joint during forward and lateral jumps by male basketball players with chronic ankle instability (CAI).Methods:A Vicon 3D motion capture system and a Kistler 3D ergometer were used to collect data describing the landing data with or without taping from forward and lateral jumps of 29 male basketball players with CAI. The landing data included the dorsiflexion and plantarflexion angles, valgus and inversion angles and external and internal rotation angles. Dorsiflexion or plantarflexion angular velocity was also recorded along with valgus or inversion angular velocity and external or internal rotation angular velocity 200ms, 150ms, 100ms and 50ms before and after touchdown. The data obtained were modeled using three-dimensional motion analysis software, and then analyzed.Results:Taping reduced the ankle plantarflexion in landing from a forward jump by 3.27° 50ms before landing and by 2.70° at touchdown. The ankle inversion angle was reduced 2.13° 50ms before touchdown, while the angle of external rotation decreased by 2.59° 200ms before touchdown and 2.17° 150ms before. Moreover, the angle of external rotation 100ms after landing was reduced by a significant 1.59° compared with that without taping. In lateral jumps taping reduced the average ankle plantarflexion angle by 1.94° 50ms before landing and 3.23° at touchdown compared with no taping. Ankle inversion was reduced significantly by 2.86° 50ms before landing and by 2.87° at touchdown. External rotation was a significant 0.93° less 200ms before landing and 2.36° smaller 150ms before touchdown. In the forward jump landing, taping reduced the average angular velocity of ankle dorsiflexion on landing by a significant 58.5°/s and by 28.39°/s 100ms later. In the lateral jump landings the average ankle dorsiflexion velocity decreased by significant 20.5°/s with taping, but the valgus velocity increased by 49.7°/s compared with no taping. However, 50ms after touchdown the speed of external rotation with taping was 30.3°/s slower than without taping.Conclusions:Ankle taping can modify ankle rotation angles and angular velocities during landing from jumps. This is particularly helpful for basketball players with CAI.