BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effect on gait function when ankle balance taping is applied to amateur soccer players with lateral ankle sprain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-over randomized design was used. Twenty-two soccer players with an ankle sprain underwent 3 interventions in a random order. Subjects were randomly assigned to ankle balance taping, placebo taping, and no taping groups. The assessment was performed using the GAITRite portable walkway system, which records the location and timing of each footfall during ambulation.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the velocity, step length, stride length, and H-H base support among the 3 different taping methods (p<0.05). The ankle balance taping group showed significantly greater velocity, step length, and stride length in comparison to the placebo and no taping group. The ankle balance taping group showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in the H-H base support compared to the placebo and no taping groups, and the placebo group showed significantly greater velocity in comparison to the no taping group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ankle balance taping that uses kinesiology tape instantly increased the walking ability of amateur soccer players with lateral ankle sprain. Therefore, ankle balance taping is a useful alternative to prevent and treat ankle sprain of soccer players.

Keywords: Ankle Injuries, Kinesiology, Applied, Soccer