The effect of recurrent ankle inversion sprain and taping on proprioception at the ankle

Purpose: A common explanation for the tendency for ankle inversion sprains to recur is that proprioception is impaired by the initial sprain. II is fu rther hypothesized that the application of tape prevents further sprains by enhancing proprioceptive acuity. The purpose of this study was to determin e whether proprioception was impaired in people with recurrent ankle invers ion sprain, and whether taping the ankle provided enhanced proprioceptive a bility. Methods: We compared the ability to perceive passive plantarflexion and dorsiflexion movements imposed at the relaxed ankle in 25 subjects wit h recurrent ankle inversion sprain, with a group of 18 healthy control subj ects, matched fur age, height, weight, and activity level. Subjects were re sted with the ankle both taped and untaped, Detection thresholds were deter mined at three velocities, 0.1 degrees.s(-1), 0.5 degrees.s(-1), and 2.5 de grees.s(-1). Velocity of the imposed movements and testing of the taped and untaped conditions were randomized. Results: There was no significant diff erence in the ability to perceive ankle movements between subjects with spr ains and healthy controls at any velocity of movement tested. In addition, there was no significant difference in movement perception between the tape d and untaped conditions fur either subject group at any velocity. Conclusi on: The ability to detect passive plantarflexion and dorsiflexion movements is not impaired in subjects with recurrent ankle inversion sprain. Further more, the protective effect of taping was shown not to arise from enhanced proprioception in the dorsiflexion-plantarflexion plane.