Aims: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries among athletes and can lead to Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI). This condition is associated with reduced dorsiflexion Range Of Motion (ROM) and decreased functional performance, increasing the risk of recurrent injury. This clinical study investigated the acute effects of kinesiotaping and dynamic taping, compared with no taping, on ankle dorsiflexion ROM and functional performance in female athletes with CAI, stratified specifically by the presence or absence of dorsiflexion restriction.

Methods:In this within-subject repeated-measures study, 40 female athletes with CAI were recruited and divided into two groups based on dorsiflexion ROM: restricted and non-restricted. Participants were assessed under three distinct conditions (kinesiotaping, dynamic taping, and no taping) across three testing sessions, with the order of conditions randomized for each participant using a lot-drawing method. Range of motion was measured using the weight-bearing lunge test, while functional performance was assessed through four specific tests: single-leg hop, triple hop, crossover hop, and the 6-meter timed hop test. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA (p≤0.05).

Findings:Significant differences were observed among the three conditions in dorsiflexion ROM and all four hop tests (P<0.05). A significant interaction effect between time and group was found across all variables, indicating distinct responses to taping between participants with and without dorsiflexion restriction. Overall, dynamic taping produced the greatest improvements, particularly in individuals with dorsiflexion restriction.

Conclusion: Taping, particularly dynamic taping, can effectively improve functional performance and increase ROM in female athletes with CAI, especially those with dorsiflexion restriction.