Use of anti-pronation taping to assess suitability of orthotic prescription: Case report

This case report describes a strategy for assessing the suitability of orthotic prescription for individual patients with lower limb overuse injuries. The case concerns a 32 year old male soccer player with a two-year history of Achilles tendinopathy. A functional assessment performed before, during, and after a trial period of anti-pronation taping showed that taping reduced symptoms markedly and resulted in a 10-fold increase in pain-free jogging distance. This was interpreted as an indication for favourable orthotic intervention. Subsequently, orthotic intervention was associated with a similar reduction in symptoms and improvement in function. This case study illustrates how a trial period of anti-pronation taping could assist therapists to make decisions about prescription of orthoses for lower limb overuse injuries.