Comparative Effects of Kinesio and Dynamic Taping on Ankle Performance in Basketball Players

Overview

This study aims to compare the effects of two different ankle taping methods-kinesio taping and dynamic taping-on balance, vertical jump performance, and reaction time in basketball players. Basketball involves frequent jumping, rapid changes in direction, and single-leg balance, which place high demands on ankle stability. Reduced ankle stability may negatively affect athletic performance and increase the risk of injury. Taping methods are commonly used in sports practice to support the ankle joint and improve functional performance; however, limited evidence exists comparing different taping techniques in basketball players. In this study, healthy male basketball players aged 18 to 30 years will receive both kinesio taping and dynamic taping applications in a crossover design, with a one-week interval between applications. Each participant will serve as their own control. Performance assessments will be conducted before and after each taping application. Outcome measures include balance performance assessed using the Y-Balance Test, vertical jump performance assessed using a mobile application-based jump test, and lower extremity reaction time assessed using a visual-motor reaction task. All procedures are non-invasive and associated with minimal risk. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based taping strategies aimed at improving athletic performance and supporting ankle function in basketball players.

This study is designed to compare the effects of kinesio taping and dynamic taping applied to the ankle joint on balance, vertical jump performance, and reaction time in basketball players. Basketball is a high-intensity sport that involves frequent jumping, rapid acceleration and deceleration, sudden changes of direction, and single-leg balance tasks. During these activities, the ankle joint plays a critical role in load transmission, postural control, and neuromuscular coordination. Reduced ankle stability may negatively affect performance and increase the risk of injury in basketball players. Taping techniques are commonly used in sports practice to support ankle stability, enhance proprioceptive input, and improve functional performance. Kinesio taping is proposed to facilitate neuromuscular control by increasing sensory feedback and modulating muscle activation, whereas dynamic taping is designed to absorb mechanical load, store elastic energy, and assist movement through elastic recoil. However, direct comparisons of these two taping methods in basketball players are limited. This study uses a randomized, controlled, crossover design. Male basketball players aged 18 to 30 years who are actively competing at the professional level are planned to be included. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to participation. Each participant will receive both taping interventions, with a one-week washout period between applications, allowing each athlete to serve as their own control. Kinesio taping and dynamic taping will be applied to the ankle and posterior lower leg according to standardized protocols described in the literature. All taping applications and performance assessments will be conducted by the same researcher, under standardized environmental conditions, and at similar times of day. Outcome measures will be assessed immediately before and after each taping application to evaluate short-term effects. Vertical jump performance will be assessed using a validated mobile application, dynamic balance will be evaluated using the Y-Balance Test, and reaction time will be assessed using a visual-motor reaction time task focusing on lower extremity responses. No invasive procedures will be performed during the study. All procedures are non-invasive and associated with minimal risk. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based taping strategies aimed at improving athletic performance and supporting ankle function in basketball players.