Effects of Nonelastic Taping and Dual Task on Kinematics and Kinetics of the Ankle Joint.

Objectives: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of nonelastic taping and dual task on ankle kinematics and kinetics in gait analysis of healthy adults.

Methods: A total of 21 healthy adults completed trials of gait analysis using a Vicon system combining ground walking with different cognitive task conditions (none, modified Stroop color/character naming, and serial-7 subtraction), with or without nonelastic taping. Ankle kinematics and kinetics including speed, ankle plantarflexion and inversion angle, ground reaction force (GRF), and stride time variability (STV) under all conditions of taping (YES or NO) and cognitive task (none, naming, and subtraction) were characterized and analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results: As regards cognitive performance, the serial-7 subtraction performance under walking conditions with and without taping was significantly poorer than simple sitting condition ( < 0.001). For kinematics and kinetics, STV showed statistically significant decrease (=0.02) when subjects underwent taping application. Vertical GRF was significantly greater under taping than barefoot (=0.001). Ankle plantarflexion at initial contact (IC) under the dual-task walking was significantly more than under simple walking (=0.008).

Conclusions: Applications of nonelastic taping and dual task may lead to the STV, vertical GRF, ankle plantarflexion, and speed alterations because of restricted joint range of motion and changed sensorimotor neural circuit. When healthy adults performed dual-task walking, central neural resources allocation was disturbed, leading to weakened performance in both motor and cognitive tasks.