Kinesio Taping Versus Proprioceptive Training on Dynamic Position Sense of the Ankle and Eversion to Inversion Strength Ratios in Children with Functional Ankle Instability

Objective: This study was conducted to compare between the effect of kinesiotaping and proprioceptive training on dynamic position sense of the ankle and eversion to inversion strength ratios in children with functional ankle instability. Methods: Thirty boys who had functional instability of one ankle were randomly assigned into two equal study groups (A and B). Their age ranged from 12 to 15 years. Both groups received a rehabilitation exercise program to restore flexibility, range of motion, and strength of the muscles around the ankle. Study group (A) received kinesio taping for ankle joint while study group (B) received proprioceptive training. All children in both groups received pre and post-treatment assessments using Biodex III isokinetic dynamometer to evaluate active repositioning senses in the following positions 25° planter-flexion, 15° inversion and 10° eversion from maximum inversion and eversion to inversion peak torque ratio at 30° and 120° velocities. Treatment program was conducted for 3 successive months in both groups. Results: There was no significant difference when com-paring the pre-treatment mean values of the two groups, while significant improvement was recorded in both study groups in all measuring variables when comparing their pre and post-treatment mean values. Significant difference was also recorded when comparing the post treatment results of the two groups in favor of group (B) (p-value 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesio taping and proprioceptive training have a beneficial effect on dynamic position sense of the ankle and eversion to inversion concentric strength ratios in children with functional ankle instability but proprioceptive training has a more important value to regularly scheduled physical therapy intervention in those patients.