Open Access

Burkay Utku, Gloria Bähr, Hannah Knoke, Patrick Mai, Francesca Paganini, Markus Hipper, Luca Braun, Yannick Denis, Janina Helwig, Steffen Willwacher

• This study aimed to investigate the effects of ankle taping on lower extremity joint biomechanics. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected from 25 participants using 3D motion capturing and force platforms without shoes for running (RUN), drop jumping (DJ), and 180° change of direction (COD), in tape applied fresh (TF) and tape after sports-specific use (TU) conditions compared to a barefootThis study aimed to investigate the effects of ankle taping on lower extremity joint biomechanics. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected from 25 participants using 3D motion capturing and force platforms without shoes for running (RUN), drop jumping (DJ), and 180° change of direction (COD), in tape applied fresh (TF) and tape after sports-specific use (TU) conditions compared to a barefoot (BF) baseline. Taping conditions decreased peak ankle excursions and moments for the frontal and sagittal planes for some of the sports-specific movements. However, TF did not significantly alter the knee and hip moments in the frontal and sagittal planes. Reducing ankle excursion likely offers some protection to extreme joint ranges. To reduce restrictions imposed by fresh taping on the sagittal plane ankle ROM, applying ankle taping already during the pre-match warm-up might be useful.…