Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if an application of kinesic tape
(KT) to the ankle is an effective measure in aiding balance using a dynamic measure of balance, the star excursion balance test (SEBT). A structured open-ended questionnaire was also administered to detem1ine if participants believed the KT actually worked or if it is merely a placebo effect. Methods: Twenty NCAA Division II collegiate men's and women's soccer, baseball, and women· s lacrosse players (1 0 males and 1 0 females) volunteered to be in this study. The mean age of participants was 21.0 ± 1.26 years, height of62.8 ± 4.5 inches, weight of 158.9 ± 29.03 lbs. and mean leg length of 92.35 ± 7.59 cm. All participants completed the SEBT under three conditions in random order: the kinesic tape (KT), placebo tape (PT), and the control (no tape, NT). All subjects had 6 practice trials in each of the 8 directions of SEBT for the dominant leg to become familiar with the task. The dominant foot was the leg in which the tape was applied and the leg used during the SEBT to balance on. The three reaches in each direction of SEBT were recorded, and the average of the three calculated and used for analysis. Once done with all three conditions for the SEBT test, each participant filled out a structured, open-ended questionnaire about their perceived perceptions of the tape conditions. Results: The results from this study showed no significant (p > 0.05) differences among the three tape conditions during the SEBT overall; although two SEBT directions (Anterior Lateral and Lateral) showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in reach differences. The Anterior Lateral directions showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in reach distance between the KT and PT conditions. The KT condition had significantly further reach distances than the PT. although the KT didn’t have any significant differences with the no tape condition (p > 0.05). The Lateral SEBT directions showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in reach distance for NT and PT conditions. The NT condition had significantly (p < 0.05) further reach distances than the PT, although NT didn’t have any significant (p > 0.05) differences with the KT condition. Through the questionnaire, results showed that the majority of participants ranked NT as the most effective in aiding balance (45%), followed by KT (35%), and PT (20%). Conclusion: This study would suggest that although KT had no effect on aiding balance during the SEBT, one-third of the participants perceived KT as the most effective in aiding balance during the SEBT, due to improved perceptions of stability, confidence and reassurance with the KT in place. Overall, none of the tape conditions for this study showed significant differences during the SEBT; and 45% of the participants perceived NT as the most effective when performing the SEBT dynan1ic balance test.
