EFFECTS OF ANKLE TAPING ON GROUND REACTION FORCES AND JUMP HEIGHT DURING A SPORT-SPECIFIC VERTICAL JUMP IN YOUTH BASKETBALL PLAYERS

M. Pratola¹, P. Sanzo¹

¹Lakehead University, School of Kinesiology, Thunder Bay, Canada

Background: Ankle sprains are the most common injury among young athletes with inversion ankle sprains accounting for 90% of basketball-related injuries, more specifically. The mechanism of injury usually involves the anterior talofibular ligament and is often the result of abnormal landing movements. The application of ankle taping has been reported to reduce the risk of sustaining an ankle injury in basketball players. Furthermore, zinc oxide sports tape has been shown to prevent injuries by reducing ankle inversion range of motion but also by decreasing vertical jump performance. Limited research, however, exists regarding the effect of the application of tape on sport-specific vertical jump height tests and ground reaction forces (GRF) on the ankle.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle taping using zinc oxide tape versus no tape on measures of GRF and vertical jump height during a sport-specific vertical jump test in youth basketball players.

Methods: Participants were recruited through purposive sampling and completed a basketball specific vertical jump test with and without zinc oxide tape. Mean sway velocity, 95% ellipse area, and path length were measured using the AMTI© force platform and vertical jump height using a Vertec© device. A paired samples t-test with a significance level of p<.05 was used for analysis.

Results: 23 individuals participated (11 females, 12 males; aged M=15.22 years; height M=171.43 cm; mass M=64.72 kg). There was a statistically significant decrease in jump height with tape (M=57.33 cm) compared to without tape (M=58.84 cm), 95% CI [2.74, 0.28], t(20)=-2.56, p<.05, d=.56; statistically significant decrease in 95% ellipse area with tape (M=1.04 in.in) compared to without tape (M=1.30 in.in), 95% CI [0.50, 0.02], t(22)=-2.26, p<.05, d=.47; statistically significant decrease in sway velocity with tape (M=9.25 ft/sec) compared to without tape (M=13.39 ft/sec), 95% CI [7.47, 0.27], t(22)=-2.22, p<.05, d=.46; and a statistically significant decrease in path length with tape (M=47.61 in) compared to without tape (M=66.97 in), 95% CI [37.37, 1.33], t(22)=-2.23, p<.05, d=.46, with a medium effect size for all variables.

Conclusions: The application of tape to the ankles resulted in increased ankle stability at landing, however, basketball jumping performance was negatively affected as the application of tape resulted in a decreased vertical jump height.

Implications: The application of different taping techniques on the ankle are commonly used both as a preventative measure and following injury.Athletes, coaches, and clinicians must be aware, however, of the effects on GRFs and how this may affect different injury patterns and mechanisms.Also, the possible negative effects of the application of tape to the ankle on specific sport specific measures such as vertical jump height must be considered as this may impact on sport performance.

Funding acknowledgements: Not a funded project.

Keywords:
Postural sway
Center of pressure
Prophylactic taping

Topics:
Sport & sports injuries
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Orthopaedics

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Lakehead University

Committee: Lakehead University School of Kinesiology Undergraduate Ethics Committee

Ethics number: 12-16-2021