Kinesio Taping and

Proprioceptive Exercise
Allie, Dan, Ian, Rachel
 Ankle Instability Background
Functional Ankle Instability (FAI) is motion
occuring at the ankle joint beyond that of
which is intended voluntarily by the
individual but not necessarily beyond the
ROM allowed by the joint.1,2

Patients with FAI tend to exhibit:

● Ankle sprains (as a result of stretched

ligamentous structures)2
● Mechanical instability2
● Loss of proprioception in ligamentous
structures3
● Loss of mechanoreceptor impulse3
● And much more
Theory of Kinesio Taping
Amongst the general public, kinesio tape has developed
widespread popularity to treat a number of pathologies
despite the need for further evidence to support its
effectiveness.

Kinesio tape claims to cause micro folds in the skin to

cause a lifting sensation; this creates a release of pressure
on the deep fascia and reduces stress on the lymphatic
system. The rationale in treating FAI with kinesio tape is
that it can create perceived joint stability and reduce stress
on involved muscles, both of which can improve balance.2
 Theory of Proprioceptive Exercise
Upon detection of joint displacement Exercise rehabilitation aims to retrain
and perturbation, mechanoreceptors proprioceptive deficits associated
obtain proprioceptive information with FAI by using multiaxial platforms
such as kinaesthesia and joint or wobble boards.1,6
- Single-Leg Balance
position sense (JPS), in normal - Single-Leg Squat
functioning. In order to maintain - Balance board exercises

postural stability and functional joint

stability, a complex responsive reflex
neural muscle activation is elicited
which increases muscle stiffness and
resists displacements.1,6
Purpose Hypothesis
The purpose of the experiment Proprioceptive exercise used with
was to investigate the kinesio taping protocol will reduce
effectiveness of kinesio tape functional ankle instability in young
compared to and concurrent with athletes following an ankle sprain.
proprioceptive exercise on the
reduction of functional ankle
instability.
Rationale and Justification based on the Literature
● Previous studies have been insufficient
○ There are very few RCTs that have reported objective results of the effects of kinesio tape
on ankle instability.
○ RCTs that contain objective results tend to be of low quality due to lack of repeatability,
poor internal validity, or researcher bias.
○ Multiple systematic reviews call for further RCTs; trials focussing on, “specific exercise
programs with taping techniques on measurements of proprioception”1 are needed. Over
all, “more high-quality RCTs are required to increase the evidence-based allowing firm
clinical recommendations to be made regarding KTT [kinesio tape]”2
● Kinesio tape is a relatively new modality that has grown in popularity in
public opinion; this RCT is an attempt to prove or disprove the
effectiveness of KTT on FAI
 Determining FAI
idFAI score of ≥ 11 =FAI
Score of ≤ 10 = no FAI

Test-retest reliability ICC=0.92

Hx of ankle instability ICC=0.82
Initial ankle sprain factor ICC=0.94
Instability during ADL ICC=0.83

“High reliability scores indicate that

the IdFAI will be a valuable tool in
both the clinical and research
settings.”4
Study Participants
30 Subjects, randomly assigned to one of two groups:
1) Control (proprioceptive exercises with no tension)
2) Treatment group (proprioceptive exercises with tension)

Inclusion Criteria:
● Ankle sprain in previous year
● Ages 18-25
● Positive score indicating FAI on the idFAI questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:
● Any acute symptoms of LE injury (pain, edema, erythema)
● Previous LE surgery
● Previous experience using KT on the ankle
Methods
2 groups:

1) Kinesio taping with proprioceptive exercise

2) Kinesio tape without tension and proprioceptive exercise

New kinesio tape applied on day 1 and day 4 of each week

Proprioceptive exercises done 6 days/week for 10 weeks

Measurements taken: start of experiment, 5 weeks, 10 weeks

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7

Tape Tape No tape Tape Tape No tape No tape

Exercise Exercise Rest Exercise Exercise Rest Rest
Methods
Kinesio tape: 2” Kinesio Tex Classic; 35% tension
1. Start one piece of tape 1” inch above medial
malleolus and run inferior under sole of foot to
1” above lateral malleolus.9
2. Second piece starts at most anterior part of leg
at level of medial and lateral malleolus and wrap around
at same level until 1” past starting point.9
Proprioceptive exercises:
-Balance board - Rocking A/P tilt, Lateral tilt 2 min each
-Balance board - Balance A/P tilt, Lateral tilt 1 min each
-Ball toss standing on one leg - 3 sets X 15 reps
-Squats on bosu ball - 3 sets X 15 reps
Expected Outcome Measures- Romberg Test
VAS Score Outcomes
IDFAI outcomes
Statistical Analysis:
Mixed-Repeated Measures ANOVA
Group Before Treatment 5 Week Retest 10 Week Retest

Proprioceptive Exercise
& Kinesio
Tape Sham

Proprioceptive Exercise
& Kinesio Tape
Conclusion
● Previous research on the topic of kinesio tape is inconclusive and lacks
quality.
● Proprioceptive exercise is statistically effective at treating FAI, however,
there are no specific parameters as to the duration and frequency of the
programs.
● Clinically, the combination of kinesio taping and proprioceptive exercise
for ankle instability is an effective treatment
Reference List
1. Hughes T, Rochester P. The effects of proprioceptive exercise and taping on proprioception in subjects with
functional ankle instability: A review of literature. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2008; 9:136-147.
doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.06.003
2. Morris D, Jones D, Ryan H, et al. The clinical effects of Kinesio® Tex taping: a systematic review. Physiotherapy
Theory and Practice. 2013; 29(4):259-270. doi:10.3109/09593985.2012.731675
3. Selva F, Pardo A, Aguado X, et al. A study of the reproducibility fo kinesiology tape applications: review,
reliability and validity. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2019; 20:153-165. doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2533-0
4. Donahue M, Simon J, Docherty CL. Reliability and validity of a new questionnaire created to establish the
presence of functional ankle instability: The idFAI. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care. 2012; 10(10):108-114.
doi:10.3928/19425864-20121212-02
5. Jackson K, Simon JE, Docherty CL. Extended use of Kinesiology Tape and Balance in Participants with Chronic
Ankle Instability. J Athl Train. 2016;51(1):16–21. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-51.2.03
6. Miller J. Physio Works - Physiotherapy Brisbane. Proprioception & Balance Exercises.
https://physioworks.com.au/treatments-1/proprioception-balance-exercises. Accessed October 14, 2019.
7. Page P. Does Kinesiology Tape Really Work? Cramer.
https://www.cramersportsmed.com/first-aider/does-kinesiology-tape-really-work.html. Published June 1, 2018.
Accessed October 14, 2019.
8. Quinn E. Ankle Sprain Rehab Exercise Program. Verywell Fit.
https://www.verywellfit.com/ankle-sprain-rehab-exercises-3120749. Published August 9, 2019. Accessed
October 14, 2019.
9. Team BB. Kinesiology Taping for Ankle Stability and Sprain. BarBend.
https://barbend.com/kinesiology-taping-ankle-stability-sprain/. Published June 15, 2017. Accessed October 14,
2019.
Theoretical Framework of the Study
● FAI can have detrimental effects on patients’ social habits. As a patient
loses confidence in their ability to ambulate they tend to reduce their
participation in social activities. Quick and effective rehabilitation is
essential for these patients as prolonged withdrawal from social events
may cause a decrease in overall health. With the proper rehab program
we as PTs can prevent this decline.
● Previous research on the topic of Kinesiotape is inconclusive and lacks
quality.
● Proprioceptive exercise is statistically effective at treating FAI, however,
there are no specific parameters as to the duration and frequency of the
programs.
Theory of Kinesiotape
- Kinesiology tape works by lifting the skin to
promote circulation which relieves pain.
- The feeling of stability is increased by
enhancing the body’s proprioceptive fields.
Proprioceptive Exercise
Proprioceptive exercises help improve the sense of where your body is in
space to decrease the risk of injury and improve stability.

Proprioceptive exercise examples:

- Single-Leg Balance
- Single-Leg Squat
- Balance board exercises
Research problem and Topic of interest
Research problem:

● People with chronic ankle instability tend to have an increased number of

inverted ankle sprains.

Topic of interest:

● The effects of proprioceptive exercises on functional ankle instability

when paired with kinesiotaping.
What is/are the research question(s) or problem
statement(s)?
● A comparison of the effectiveness between
proprioceptive exercise and kinesiotaping on the
reduction of functional ankle instability (FAI)
Measurements of Functional Ankle Instability (FAI)
● The current best practice methods for recording FAI is to use a self-report
questionnaire.
● “The Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) is a newly
published questionnaire that was specifically designed to detect whether
individuals meet a minimum criteria necessary for inclusion in an FAI
population” (Donahue et al. 1).
○ In the study quoted above, there was a significant finding that the idFAI questionnaire
measures functional ankle instability in a reliable and repeatable manner.
● For these reasons we will be using the idFAI to record initial and final FAI.
● Romberg Test for Imbalance
References
Hughes T, Rochester P. The effects of proprioceptive exercise and taping on proprioception in subjects with functional ankle instability:
A review of the literature. Physical Therapy in Sport.I (2008) 136–147. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.06.003

Jackson K, Simon JE, Docherty CL. Extended use of Kinesiology Tape and Balance in Participants with Chronic Ankle Instability. J Athl
Train. 2016;51(1):16–21. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-51.2.03

Miller J. Physio Works - Physiotherapy Brisbane. Proprioception & Balance Exercises.

https://physioworks.com.au/treatments-1/proprioception-balance-exercises. Accessed October 14, 2019.

Morris D, Jones D, Ryan H, Ryan CG. The clinical effects of Kinesio® Tex taping: A systematic review. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice.
2013;29(4):259-270. doi:10.3109/09593985.2012.731675.

Page P. Does Kinesiology Tape Really Work? Cramer.

https://www.cramersportsmed.com/first-aider/does-kinesiology-tape-really-work.html. Published June 1, 2018. Accessed October 14,
2019.

Quinn E. Ankle Sprain Rehab Exercise Program. Verywell Fit. https://www.verywellfit.com/ankle-sprain-rehab-exercises-3120749.

Published August 9, 2019. Accessed October 14, 2019.

Team BB. Kinesiology Taping for Ankle Stability and Sprain. BarBend. https://barbend.com/kinesiology-taping-ankle-stability-sprain/.
Published June 15, 2017. Accessed October 14, 2019.
Articles to defs use
1) Main: The Clinical effects of Kinesio Tex taping: A systematic review.
a)
2) Supporting: Extended Use of Kinesiology Tape and Balance in Participants
With Chronic Ankle Instability:
a) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851123/
3) Not supporting:

Extras:

1) Looking at kinesiotaping and balance: Effect of Kinesio® Taping in Chronic Ankle

Instability: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02266290
Articles
Balance: romberg. Taping and balance article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851123/

The difference in ankle ROM before and after exercise in 2 taping conditions:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0363546508325925
The effects of proprioceptive exercise and taping on proprioception in subjects with functional ankle instability: a review of
the literature.: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19083714

Ankle taping and bracing for proprioception

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/8/527

★ The effect of ankle taping or bracing on proprioception in functional ankle instability: a systematic review and meta-analysis:
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1466853X08000692?token=68E8D25F6FF70DCAE478490C3DC3BAF494AF3F2983
FC6290FBCAE5338E04B59BB2784B22EA6F4E1B80FEFEE410D87F75
Articles Cont.

Extended Use of Kinesiology Tape and Balance in Participants With Chronic Ankle Instability:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851123/

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/49/24/1558.full.pdf

https://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=5f55c6db
-02ae-43ad-83fe-381570e7d0af%40sdc-v-sessmgr02

https://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=5f55c6db
-02ae-43ad-83fe-381570e7d0af%40sdc-v-sessmgr02