Effects of ankle Kinesio™ taping on jump biomechanics in collegiate athletes with chronic ankle instability

Background Athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI) are prone to recurrent ankle giving-way episodes due to impairments in the joint's stress-shielding capacity. CAI can deteriorate athletes' biomechanics and increase the risk of other lower limb injuries. One popular treatment for CAI is Kinesio tape (KT). The effects of lateral ankle support from KT application on different jump biomechanical characteristics such as kinetic, kinematic and electromyography variables have not been extensively studied. Aims This study was designed to observe the impacts of ankle KT on lower limb biomechanics and muscle activation during a countermovement jump among athletes with CAI. Methods Thirty collegiate athletes with CAI performed three countermovement jumps before and after KT application around their shank and ankle. Kinematic variables included ankle, knee, and hip range of motion, angular velocity, and power. Kinetic variables included vertical ground reaction force, rate of force development, and peak power. Muscle activation was measured from lateral and medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and peroneus longus. Results KT decreased frontal plane ankle movement (P = 0.002) and peroneus longus activity (P = 0.045). Additionally, we observed a significant increase in jump height (P = 0.001), ankle plantar flexion ROM (P = 0.006), angular velocity of all lower limb joints (P < 0.05), vertical ground reaction force (P < 0.001), rate of force development (P < 0.001), peak power (P < 0.001), hip and ankle joint power (P = 0.001, and 0.021, respectively), and activity amplitudes of lateral gastrocnemius (P = 0.028) and medial gastrocnemius (P = 0.015). Conclusion Lateral ankle support using KT appears to decrease ankle ROM in the frontal plane and ankle stabilizer activity, suggesting KT may be efficient for supporting the lateral ankle during jumping. Moreover, KT could improve various kinematic and kinetic variables that resulted in better jump performance. It seems that ankle KT may be beneficial for protecting the joint while improving the performance.