The Effect of Kinesiology Tape on Biomechanics and Proprioception in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Seth Spicer 1
Ryan St. John 1
Hanna Brancaccio 1
Christopher Femino 1
Elie J. Christoforides 1
Kanad Mukherjee 2
1 Futures Forward Research Institute, 4606 Hamilton drive, Voorhees, NJ, 08043
2 Department of Medicine, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
Abstract
Aims: This study investigated the effects of Kinesiology Tape (KT) on proprioception in individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI), immediately after application and at delayed follow-up, compared to a control group.
Method and Materials: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were searched using keywords related to “ankle instability,” “kinesio tape,” and “proprioception.” Controlled studies assessing stability and proprioception with the Y-balance test and Sensory Organization Test (SOT) composite score, both at baseline and within two months, were included. Case series and studies lacking usable data at both time points or without controls were excluded. Three studies (n = 123 participants) met criteria for the primary analysis and five studies (n = 235 participants) for the secondary analysis. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model in IBM SPSS, version 29.
Findings: All groups, including controls, showed significant improvements in proprioception from baseline (p < 0.05). Immediate KT application improved proprioception (p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = -0.53 [-0.96, -0.09], I2 = 0%), but did not differ from the control group (p = 0.1). Extended KT use yielded significant proprioceptive improvements (p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = -1.77 [-2.16, -1.39], I2 = 0%) that were significantly superior to controls (p ≤ 0.001).
Conclusion: Kinesiology tape is widely used after ankle injuries, but evidence for its effectiveness in CAI is limited. In this study, a random-effects pooled analysis found no significant differences in proprioception between KT users and controls at immediate or delayed follow-up.

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International Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain Prevention
Volume 11, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Pages 1333-1341