The Immediate Effects of Low-Dye Taping on Plantar Contact Area, Static and Dynamic Balance, and Athletic Performance in Elite Basketball Players with Flexible Flatfoot

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of LowDye Taping (LDT) on plantar pressure distribution, static and dynamic balance, and athletic performance in elite basketball players with flexible flatfoot. Methods Seventeen elite basketball players with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to either the LowDye Taping group (LDT, n=9) or the placebo taping group (PT, n=8). Plantar pressure (contact area), static balance (Single Leg Stance Test under eyesopen and eyesclosed conditions), dynamic balance (YBalance Test), and athletic performance (Sargent Jump Test) were measured immediately before and after the intervention. For data analysis, the Sargent Jump Test, which satisfied normality, was analyzed using Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (Repeated Measures ANOVA). Variables that did not meet the assumption of normality—including plantar pressure, static balance, and dynamic balance—were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signedrank test for withingroup comparisons and the MannWhitney U test for betweengroup comparisons. Results Withingroup comparisons showed a significant reduction in plantar contact area in the LDT group after taping (p=.015). During left leg stance, normalized YBalance reach distances significantly increased in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions in the LDT group (all p=.028). The PT group also showed a significant increase in normalized anterior reach distance during left leg stance (p=.036). Conclusion No significant betweengroup differences were observed in plantar contact area, static or dynamic balance, or athletic performance following the intervention. Although a moderate effect size was noted for plantar contact area, the present findings do not support the use of LDT for injury prevention or performance enhancement, and further adequately powered studies are warranted.