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Acute effects of athletic taping on arch deformity and plantar pressure in young female adults with flexible flatfoot

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to explore the acute effects of athletic taping techniques on foot arch deformity and plantar pressure in young female adults with flexible flatfoot (FFT).

METHODS

Twenty young female adults with FFT were recruited in the current study. Each participant was randomly divided into two taping groups, namely, augmented low-dye (ALD) and modified low-dye (MLD). The foot arch deformity and plantar pressure were measured at baseline, after taping and after 20 min of walking. The foot arch deformity was determined based on navicular drop distance (NDD) and resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP).

RESULTS

Compared with baseline, the NDD values were significantly lower after taping. After 20 min of walking, ALD taping resulted in a lower NDD value than MLD (p < 0.001). ALD maintained a higher RCSP than baseline after 20 min of walking (p = 0.004). Furthermore, compared with baseline, medial midfoot force-time integration (p = 0.013) and contact area (p = 0.022) increased after taping with MLD, and peak pressure in the medial midfoot increased after walking for 20 min with MLD (p = 0.026). Peak pressure in the second to fifth toes significantly decreased after 20 min of walking with ALD compared with that after taping immediately (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

ALD and MLD taping could improve FFT arch deformity and plantar pressure distribution, prospectively changing peak pressure of the second to fifth toe area and medial midfoot after 20 min of walking, integrated contact area and force-time integration medial midfoot during walking in young female adults. Furthermore, ALD taping could improve FFT deformity more than using MLD after 20 min of walking. Thus, when treating FFT in young female adults, ALD taping should be considered adaptively to guide arch support production and correct midfoot pronation.

Effects of Low-Dye Tape on Arch Height and Its Impact on the Medial Gastrocnemius Electromyographic Activity in Structurally Differentiable Foot Types: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Low-Dye tape (LDT) is a short-term treatment for plantar fasciitis, where external stabilization by means of the tape improves kinetics, kinematics, pain level, and electromyography (EMG).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the EMG of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and changes in arch height (AH) based on the type of foot.

METHODS

A total of 30 subjects participated in this study; they walked on a treadmill barefoot and when taped, where the average activity and changes in AH were measured over a 30 s period. The statistical intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to test for reliability was calculated, and the Wilcoxon test was determined for measures of EMG and AH.

RESULTS

The reliability of the values of EMG was almost perfect. The data show that there was an increase in height in the comparison of the moment pre-baseline walking and post-taped walking on neutral feet (5.61 ± 0.46 vs. 5.77 ± 0.39 cm, p < 0.05), on pronated feet (5.67 ± 0.57 vs. 6.01 ± 0.53 cm, p < 0.001) and on supinated feet (5.97 ± 0.36 vs. 6.28 ± 0.27 cm, p < 0.05). In the MG, EMG activity decreased significantly in the taped condition compared to the baseline condition in neutral subjects (0.0081 ± 0.016 vs. 0.076 ± 0.016 mV, p < 0.05) and in pronated subjects (0.081 ± 0.022 vs. 0.068 ± 0.025 mV, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It was demonstrated that with the use of LDT, there was an improvement in the average activity in the MG in pronated and neutral feet. All foot types improved in arch height with the use of tape.

Effects of taping techniques on arch deformation in adults with pes planus: A meta-analysis

Objective

To investigate effects of taping techniques on arch deformation in adults with pes planus.

Methods

The following databases were searched up to March 2020, including Web of Science, Pubmed, EBSCO, CNKI and Cochrane Library. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed by I² index and funnel plots, respectively. In addition, Cochrane scale was used to evaluate the quality of research.

Results

Navicular height for three antipronation taping techniques significantly increased immediately post tape compared with baseline (mean difference = 4.86 mm, 95% CI = 2.86–6.87 mm, Z = 4.75, p < 0.001). The highest increase was observed in Augmented low-Dye (ALD). Modified low-Dye (MLD) was second only to ALD (p<0.001). Navicular height after walking for 10 min was much higher than baseline (p<0.001), with MLD decreased smaller than ALD.

Conclusions

ALD was the most effective taping technique for controlling foot arch collapse immediately post tape compared with baseline, followed by MLD. By contrast, MLD could possibly performed better than ALD in maintaining immediate navicular height after walking for 10 min. Low-Dye could make resting calcaneal stance position closer to neutral position. Although positive effects of Navicular sling, low-Dye and Double X taping interventions were observed, they could not maintain this immediate navicular height effect after a period of higher intensity weight-bearing exercise.

Reliability and Repeatability of Pressure Center Analysis with Low-Dye Taping Using Force Platform Podiatry Sensors in Feet with Excessive Pronation

BACKGROUND

The analysis of the center of pressure (COP) is a method used to assess the foot function, but its reliability and repeatability have not been evaluated. COP can be altered by diverse conditions, like an excessive foot pronation. Low-Dye taping is commonly used for the treatment of symptoms related to an excessive pronation. To date, no study has evaluated the effects of the Low-Dye taping on COP and the duration of its effects. Thus, the main purpose of this manuscript was to assess the reliability and repeatability of the percentage of center of pressure locus area (%CLA) in feet with an excessive pronation, and secondarily, to assess that the Low-Dye taping modifies the %CLA during the immediate 48 h.

METHODS

An observational study of the reliability and repeatability of the %CLA variable with the Low-Dye taping in feet with excessive pronation was carried out. We used the EPS-Platform to evaluate the results of the variable in 6 conditions in a first session to evaluate the reliability of the results. We compared the results of the first session with the results in a second session to evaluate the repeatability of the results. We also carried out an ANOVA test to evaluate the changes that the taping produced in the variable between without taping with the rest of the 6 conditions.

RESULTS

For the %CLA, we observed a reliability greater than 0.80, measured by the interclass ratio index, both in the first session before taping, and in the second session before taping, thus being a repeatability variable. In the following times, with taping, at 10 min with tape, at 20 min with tape, at 24 h with tape and at 48 h with tape; an interclass ratio coefficient (ICC) higher than 0.80 was again obtained, thus being a reliable variable in all measurements made. The Low-Dye taping did not change %CLA from the time the tape was put in until 48 h (p-value = 1.000).

CONCLUSIONS

The %CLA variable, in feet with excessive pronation, proved to be a reliable variable in all the measurements obtained before putting on the tape and during the following 48 h with the tape, and a repeatable variable. The Low-Dye taping did not change the %CLA from the time the tape was put in until 48 h.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Kinesiology Taping in the Management of Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives

This study aims to compare the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and kinesiology taping in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Patients and methods

The study included 80 patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. The patients were randomized into two groups as ESWT (9 males, 28 females; mean age 47.8±12.4 years; range 40 to 55 years) and kinesiology taping (KT, 7 males, 26 females; mean age 47.7±9.8 years; range 40 to 55 years) groups. Groups were similar regarding age, sex, and body mass index (all p>0.05). Three patients in ESWT group and seven patients in KT group were lost to follow-up. ESWT was applied once a week for five weeks, while KT was applied every five days for five weeks. Patients' pain and functional status were evaluated with visual analog scale, heel tenderness index, and foot and ankle outcome score before and after treatment.

Results

At the study onset, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in their visual analog scale, heel tenderness index, and foot and ankle outcome scores. Five weeks later, both groups showed significant improvement in all parameters (p<0.05), but no significant differences were observed between the groups in the visual analog scale, heel tenderness index, and foot and ankle outcome score scores.

Conclusion

Both ESWT and KT treatments improved pain levels and function and quality of life in individuals with plantar fasciitis. Neither method was superior in treating plantar fasciitis.