Effects of Kinesio Taping During an Agility-Based Exercise Program in Adults with Chronic Ankle Instability

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare neuromuscular and functional outcomes according to the presence or absence of Kinesio taping during an identical agility-based exercise program in adults with chronic ankle instability (CAI).METHODS Twenty-six adults with CAI were randomly assigned to an exercise group (n = 13) or an exercise plus taping group (n = 13) in an assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Both groups performed the same agility-based exercise program three times per week for four weeks. Kinesio taping was applied immediately before exercise only in the taping group. Outcome measures included ankle range of motion, isometric ankle muscle strength, ankle muscle activation assessed using surface electromyography, and dynamic balance assessed using the Y-Balance Test. All measurements were obtained before and after the intervention.RESULTS Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in most outcome measures after the intervention (<i>p</i> < 0.05). However, no significant between-group differences were found in range of motion, muscle strength, or Y-Balance performance based on change scores (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The increase in soleus muscle activation was significantly greater in the exercise plus taping group than in the exercise group (<i>p</i> = 0.024, d = 0.95), indicating a large effect size.CONCLUSIONS Agility-based exercise resulted in improvements in ankle range of motion, muscle strength, dynamic balance, and muscle activation in adults with CAI. Although Kinesio taping did not provide additional benefits beyond exercise alone for most outcomes, it suggested a possible muscle-specific effect on soleus activation when applied during exercise.