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Effects of ankle taping on the motion and loading pattern of the foot for walking subjects
Author(s) -
Carmines David V.,
Nunley James A.,
McElhaney James H.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100060209
Subject(s) - forefoot , ankle , sagittal plane , barefoot , center of pressure (fluid mechanics) , medicine , ground reaction force , peroneus longus , heel , orthodontics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , biomechanics , force platform , kinematics , anatomy , surgery , physics , thermodynamics , aerodynamics , classical mechanics , complication
Gait analysis was used to compare the ground reaction forces, ankle and foot rotations in the sagittal plane, and the center of pressure pattern beneath the right feet of seven normal subjects walking barefoot, with and without their right ankles taped in the neutral position. Instrumentation included a force plate, ankle goniometer, and two accelerometers mounted on top of the foot. The ground reaction forces showéd no change between the same ankle, taped and untaped. Taping served to reduce the range of ankle rotations in the sagittal plane by ∼20%, with a subsequent increase in the rotation about the metatarsal heads during heel‐up. Hell‐up occurred earlier in stance when the ankle was taped than with no taping. The vertical force graph was integrated over time when the center of pressure was located beneath the heel and the ball, resulting in two impulse measurements. The heel impulse decreased for each of the 7 subjects and 6 of the 7 subjects displayed an increase in the ball impulse due to taping, indicating that taping served to shift the load‐time history away from the heel and toward the ball. The results of this study may apply to fused ankle patients, who may suffer forefoot abnormalities subsequent to ankle fusion surgery.