Effects of Combined Exercise and Kinesio Taping on Balance and Jump Performance in Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a combined neuromuscular rehabilitation program improves static balance, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength in athletes with chronic ankle instability. It will also examine whether the addition of kinesio taping provides additional effects compared with exercise alone. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a six-week balance and strength exercise program improve static postural control in athletes with chronic ankle instability? Does the rehabilitation program improve countermovement jump performance, drop jump performance, and ankle inversion and eversion muscle strength? Does adding kinesio taping to the exercise program lead to greater improvements in balance, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength compared with exercise alone? Researchers will compare three groups: an exercise group, an exercise plus kinesio taping group, and a control group, to evaluate the effects of the rehabilitation program and the potential additional effects of kinesio taping. Participants will: Take part in a supervised rehabilitation program three times per week for six weeks (intervention groups). Perform balance training on a wobble board and strength exercises using elastic resistance bands. Receive kinesio taping before each rehabilitation session if assigned to the taping group. Undergo assessments before and after the intervention, including force-plate measurements of static balance, countermovement jump and drop jump performance, and dynamometer measurements of ankle inversion and eversion muscle strength.

Chronic ankle instability is a frequent condition among athletes and is associated with recurrent ankle sprains, impaired proprioception, muscle weakness, and deficits in postural control. These impairments may negatively influence functional and athletic performance and increase the risk of further injury. Neuromuscular rehabilitation programs that combine balance and strength training are commonly used to address these deficits; however, evidence regarding the additional value of adjunctive interventions such as kinesio taping remains limited. This randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a structured neuromuscular rehabilitation program on static balance, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength in athletes with chronic ankle instability, and to determine whether the addition of kinesio taping provides additional effects. Participants meeting the eligibility criteria for chronic ankle instability were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three study groups. The intervention consisted of a supervised six-week rehabilitation program focused on balance and strength exercises targeting the ankle joint. One intervention group received kinesio taping before each training session in addition to the exercise program, while the other intervention group performed the same rehabilitation program without taping. The control group continued its usual activities without receiving the specific rehabilitation program. Participants underwent laboratory-based assessments before and after the intervention period. Static postural control was assessed using force-plate measurements. Jump performance was evaluated using countermovement jump and drop jump assessments, including countermovement jump height, drop jump ground contact time, and the flight time-to-contact time ratio as an indicator of reactive performance. Ankle muscle strength was assessed by measuring isometric inversion and eversion strength using a dynamometer. The study design allowed comparison of changes in static postural control, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength among the three groups following the six-week intervention. The findings are intended to provide clinically relevant evidence for physiotherapists and sports rehabilitation professionals regarding exercise-based conservative management of chronic ankle instability and the potential additional effects of kinesio taping.