The effect of taping on knee kinematics in healthy people during side hop

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the taping on knee joint kinematics in the frontal and transverse planes. Nine healthy subjects (eight males and one female) volunteered to participate in this study. The Vicon T40 motion analysis system and two force platforms were used to synchronically record the 3-D trajectories of the reflective markers and the ground reaction forces during side hop. Each subject stood on the dominant leg, and jumped on the force platform from side to side between two parallel strips of tape. The knee joint motion data were grouped into two different landing conditions (jumping outward and inward). The results showed that: in the frontal plane, the condition of taping reduced knee valgus angle. In the transverse plane, the results showed significantly greater external tibial rotation angle at toe-off during outward and inward jumping. Therefore, taping could limit the knee angles in the frontal and transverse plane during side jump. That might have contributed in preventing knee ACL injured.