The objective of this study was to investigate whether ankle balance taping (ABT) applied after muscle fatigue-inducing exercise can cause immediate improvements in dynamic and static balance. A total of 31 adults (16 males and 15 females) met the inclusion criteria. The experiment was designed using a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Changes in static and dynamic balance were measured before and after inducing muscle fatigue in the ankles and after ABT or ankle placebo taping (APT). After ankle muscle fatigue-inducing exercise, both the ABT and APT groups showed significant increases in surface area ellipses in the static state with eyes open (p < 0.05), and significant increases in surface area ellipses in the static and dynamic states with eyes closed (both p < 0.05). After taping of the fatigued ankle, surface area ellipses decreased significantly when eyes were open and closed in the static and dynamic states, but only in the ABT group (p < 0.05). Static balance was significantly different between groups (eyes open, 36.2 ± 86; eyes closed, 22.9 ± 46.7). Dynamic balance was significantly different between groups (eyes open, 68.6 ± 152.1; eyes closed, 235.8 ± 317.6). ABT may help prevent ankle injuries in individuals who experience muscle fatigue around the ankles after sports and daily activities.
Keywords: ankle; balance; balance taping; fatigue; kinesiology tape.