Kinesio Taping for the Knee and Ankle: Acute Impact on Balance, Proprioception, and ACL Risk

Official title

Evaluation and Comparison of the Acute Effects of Kinesio Taping Applied to the Knee and Ankle in the Lower Extremity on Balance, Proprioception, and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS)

Overview

This study aims to evaluate and compare the acute effects of Kinesio taping applied to the knee and ankle on balance, proprioception, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). Designed as a randomized crossover trial, the study will include 24 healthy volleyball athletes with at least 5 years of experience. All participants will receive both ankle and knee taping interventions, separated by a one-week washout period. Assessments will be conducted at four time points: before and after each taping. Outcome measures include the Y-Balance Test, proprioception tests, and LESS.

Detailed description

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate and compare the acute effects of Kinesio taping applied to the knee and ankle on balance, proprioception, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk, assessed via the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS).

Methods:

A randomized crossover design will be used. The study will be conducted at Gazi University with 24 healthy adult volleyball athletes (≥18 years) who have been licensed players for at least 5 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to two experimental sequences:

Group A: knee taping followed by ankle taping

Group B: ankle taping followed by knee taping Each taping intervention will be separated by a one-week washout period. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after each taping session.

Knee taping will be performed using a valgus-control spiral taping technique with 50% stretch. Ankle taping will be conducted using the "figure-of-eight" method, also with 50% stretch. All applications will be administered by the same licensed physiotherapist to ensure consistency.

Outcome Measures:

Balance: Y-Balance Test (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral reach)

Proprioception: Joint position sense tests for the knee and ankle (with eyes closed, angular replication tasks)

Injury Risk: LESS test evaluating landing biomechanics and scoring 17 specific kinematic errors

Statistical analyses will be performed using SPSS v24.0. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests will be used depending on data normality. A significance level of p\<0.05 will be adopted.

Expected Results:

Kinesio taping is expected to acutely enhance proprioceptive feedback and postural control in both the knee and ankle, resulting in improved landing mechanics and a reduction in ACL injury risk. The relative effectiveness of each taping site will also be compared.

Interventions

• Procedure Kinesio Taping (KT) applied to the knee then ankle
  Procedure/Surgery: Procedure/Surgery: Kinesio Taping (KT) applied to the knee or ankle Kinesio taping was applied using a standard Y-strip with approximately 50% tension over the dominant lower extremity. In the "Knee Taping" condition, the tape was applied over the vastus medialis oblique and patellar tendon. In the "Ankle Taping" condition, the tape was applied over the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles. Each taping intervention was performed by a trained physiotherapist and remain
• Procedure Kinesio Taping (KT) applied to the ankle then knee
  Kinesio taping was applied using a standard Y-strip with approximately 50% tension over the dominant lower extremity. In the "Knee Taping" condition, the tape was applied over the vastus medialis oblique and patellar tendon. In the "Ankle Taping" condition, the tape was applied over the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscles. Each taping intervention was performed by a trained physiotherapist and remained in place during the assessment session. The purpose of the intervention is to examin

Primary outcome measures

• Landing biomechanics score based on LESS (Landing Error Scoring System) [Time frame: "Immediately after each taping intervention (same day)"]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Dynamic balance score based on the Y-Balance Test [Time frame: "Immediately after each taping intervention (same day)"]
• Proprioception accuracy based on joint position sense [Time frame: "Immediately after each taping intervention (same day)"]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Being 18 years of age or older
• Being a licensed and regular volleyball player for at least 5 years

Exclusion criteria

• Being enrolled in another study or treatment program
• Being unable to complete the study for any other reason
• Having suffered a lower extremity injury within 6 months prior to participating in the study
• Female participants must be in their menstrual cycle

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Crossover

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Prevention

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center

• Gaziosmapasa University — Tokat Province

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Identifiers

NCT: NCT07138573 · 2025 - 1154

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗