Effects of Combined Exercise and Kinesio Taping on Balance and Jump Performance in Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

NCT07427290 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CAI-RTC-2024-ALB
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a combined neuromuscular rehabilitation program improves static balance, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength in athletes with chronic ankle instability. It will also examine whether the addition of kinesio taping provides additional effects compared with exercise alone. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a six-week balance and strength exercise program improve static postural control in athletes with chronic ankle instability? Does the rehabilitation program improve countermovement jump performance, drop jump performance, and ankle inversion and eversion muscle strength? Does adding kinesio taping to the exercise program lead to greater improvements in balance, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength compared with exercise alone? Researchers will compare three groups: an exercise group, an exercise plus kinesio taping group, and a control group, to evaluate the effects of the rehabilitation program and the potential additional effects of kinesio taping. Participants will: Take part in a supervised rehabilitation program three times per week for six weeks (intervention groups). Perform balance training on a wobble board and strength exercises using elastic resistance bands. Receive kinesio taping before each rehabilitation session if assigned to the taping group. Undergo assessments before and after the intervention, including force-plate measurements of static balance, countermovement jump and drop jump performance, and dynamometer measurements of ankle inversion and eversion muscle strength.

Conditions

Chronic Ankle Instability

Keywords

Balance Training; Kinesio Taping; Strength Training; Chronik Ankle Instability; Static Balance; Vertical Jump; Drop Jump

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Static Balance Measured by Center of Pressure Ellipse Area

  Static balance will be assessed using a force plate by analyzing center of pressure (COP) parameters, specifically the ellipse area. Measurements will be performed in a single-leg stance position under two conditions: eyes open and eyes closed. Smaller COP ellipse area values indicate better postural control.

  From baseline assessment to post-intervention assessment after 6 weeks

• Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

  Countermovement jump (CMJ) performance was assessed using the Leonardo Mechanograph GRFP STD force platform (Novotec Medical GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany). Participants performed bilateral countermovement jumps, and jump height was automatically calculated by the manufacturer's software and recorded in meters (m). Three valid trials were performed, separated by approximately 60 seconds of rest, and the highest jump height was used for statistical analysis. Higher values indicated better vertical jump performance.

  Baseline and after the 6-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Ankle Inversion and Eversion Muscle Strength

  Baseline and after the 6-week intervention

• Drop Jump Contact Time

  Baseline and after the 6-week intervention

• Reactive Strength Ratio (RSR)

  Baseline and after the 6-week intervention

Study Arms (3)

Combined Rehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received a combined rehabilitation program consisting of balance and strength exercises together with kinesio taping applied to the ankle. The intervention was performed according to a standardized protocol for improving balance and ankle stability

Other: Exercise Program with Kinesio Taping

Exercise Only Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received only the exercise program (balance and strength) without kinesio taping. The exercises were identical to those used in the combined group and followed the same duration and frequency.

Other: Balance and Strength Exercise Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group did not receive any structured rehabilitation intervention during the study period. They continued their usual daily activities without additional therapeutic exercises or kinesio taping.

Interventions

Exercise Program with Kinesio Taping OTHER

The same six-week balance and strength rehabilitation program as in the Exercise Group, combined with Kinesio Taping applied to the ankle before each training session. Taping was applied by a certified physiotherapist using a standardized technique to enhance proprioceptive input and neuromuscular activation.

Combined Rehabilitation Group

Balance and Strength Exercise Program OTHER

A structured rehabilitation program consisting of balance training on a wobble board and ankle strengthening exercises using Thera-Band. Sessions were performed three times per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision. Exercises included single-leg balance tasks with progressive difficulty and strengthening exercises targeting dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion.

Exercise Only Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may not qualify if:

• History of musculoskeletal surgery. Presence of orthopedic conditions such as lower-limb fractures. Any musculoskeletal injury within the 3 months preceding the study. Known neurological disorders that could influence balance performance. Known vestibular disorders that could influence balance performance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sport University of Tirana: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sport University of Tirana

Tirana, 1001, Albania

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist, PhD Candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2026
• First Posted: February 23, 2026
• Study Start: November 20, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 2, 2025
• Study Completion: May 2, 2025
• Last Updated: September 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AL (1)