1. Introduction

The upright posture uniquely characteristic of humans is dependent upon many factors. Kinesio Taping is used to enhance ankle joint stability, but its effectiveness in relation to body stability in a standing position has not yet been verified in scientific research. Objectives: Assessment of the effect of ankle Kinesio Taping on stabilometric parameters in young, healthy women. Material and Methods: The study included 50 healthy women (mean age 21.12 ±1.83 years) who were randomly assigned to two groups: the taping group (group T) and control group (group C). In the taping group Kinesio Taping was applied according to the method used in ankle sprains (both inversion and eversion). The women performed the Romberg test four times with each trial lasting two minutes on an Alfa AC International East stabilometric platform: two tests without Kinesio taping intervention and two further tests with (group T) or without taping (group C).

Significant differences between the groups were observed in the following parameters: mean speed in the sagittal plane with eyes open; 0.06 cm/s (p=0.0002), mean speed in the frontal plane with eyes open; 0.07 cm/s (p=0.0001), total path length with eyes open; 5.78 cm (p=0.0001) and sway area with eyes open; 0.58 cm2 (p=0.0002) and in parameters: mean velocity in the sagittal plane with eyes closed; 0.10 cm/s (p=0.0004), mean velocity in the frontal plane with eyes closed; 0.11 cm/s (p=0.0004) and in total path length with eyes closed; 0.43 cm (p=0.0004). Ankle sprain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries and is strongly associated with sports activities.

Sprain is an injury in which the ligament gets stretched or torn due to damage of the soft tissue, but the damage mechanism is not clearly understood. However, a predominant view is that an ankle sprain occurs with excessive movement in the ankle, and damage frequently happens when the foot gets over-inverted or -everted during running or landing after a jump. Most cases of ankle sprain among soccer players are lateral ankle sprains that occurs when the foot gets over-plantar-flexed or inverted during walking, running, or landing after a jump. A less common injury, medial ankle sprain, occasionally occurs during excessive sports activity. Since amateur soccer players have less training and experience, less physical strength, and less developed technical soccer skills than professional soccer players, they may have greater risk of lateral ankle sprain. When lateral ankle sprain occurs, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), which provide stability to the outer side of the ankle, are damaged [7]. In reference to lateral ankle sprain, it is worth nothing that the ATFL, CFL, and PTFL can be injured independently of each other. When medial ankle sprain occurs, the deltoid ligament, which provides stability to the inner side of the ankle, is damaged.

Clinical considerations in diagnosis include type of injury and severity [9]. With severe ankle sprain damage, instability of the foot increases due to damage to the ligament that provides stability to the ankle, and pain appears at the acute stage, accompanying edema. During the first 2 weeks after an acute lateral ankle sprains, there is a rapid decrease in pain, after which it continues to improve more slowly. This obviously leads to functional disability such as balance deficits, strength deficits, decrease of ankle range of motion, and sinus tarsi syndrome. Due to ankle instability on the damaged side, weight movement becomes difficult and a change in walking pattern occurs. Ankle sprains impair ability to perform activities of daily living such as walking.

Ankle sprain is an injury with high recurrence possibility and may cause functional disability, making it extremely important to receive proper treatment and remedial exercises. Except for serious damage, ankle sprains are generally treated conservatively rather than surgically. At the acute stage, use of the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) protocol is recommended to decrease edema, followed by physical therapies such as electrostimulation, ultrasonic therapy, massage, and manual therapy to decrease pain and speed functional recovery.

Later, rehabilitation focuses on increasing the range of motion in the joints, improving muscle strength, recovering balance, and improving walking pattern through balance and muscle exercises. There is growing interest in taping methods for prevention of ankle sprain recurrence and to improve proprioception of the ankle. Taping with elastic bandages is used for neuromuscular diseases as well, and numerous studies have reporting its effect, reported the effect of ankle taping on the dynamic balance of young soccer players with functionally instable ankles, observed that ankle taping has a therapeutic effect in recovering ankle stability in patients with chronic ankle instability. However, no studies have been conducted to analyze walking movement of amateur soccer players with lateral ankle sprains after the application of taping treatment.

The present study examined the immediate effect on walking ability when ankle balance taping is applied to amateur soccer players with severe lateral ankle sprains.

Although 28 subjects were recruited, 6 failed to meet inclusion criteria due to refusal to participate and not meeting inclusion criteria. Twenty-two subjects who met inclusion criteria were diagnosed with severe lateral ankle sprain between August 2016 and October 2016. Ice packs were applied directly to the injury to reduce edema after ankle sprain (within 36 h of injury) [21]. We did not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the treatment of severe ankle sprains and other soft tissue injuries. Subjects were recruited from the soccer team at Hyun-pung High School, after providing informed written consent and study approval from the Research Ethics Committee of Daegu University.

Twenty-two subjects with severe lateral ankle sprain met the study criteria. All subjects were diagnosed with severe ankle sprain confirmed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The enrollment criteria applied were:

(1) Ankle sprain within 1 month.

(2) Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score <24 (individuals with a score of <24 was designated with chronic ankle instability,

(3) Not participating in any ankle treatment program,

(4) No muscular-skeletal disorder and other severe lower extremity injury (excluding ankle sprain),

(5) No history of ankle fracture or ankle surgery,

(6) No ankle edema,

(7) No history of neurological disease, vestibular or visual disturbance, or any other pathology,

(8) No taping side effects such as skin redness.

Kinesio taping is a therapeutic technique based on the use of a special elastic tape with unique characteristics. It is used at any stage of treatment:

• Acute stage (first day of injury)

• Subacute (3-5 days)

• Recovery period after injury.

As an example, consider an ankle sprain while playing football. The classic option for this game is an inversion injury or a twisted foot.

The main symptoms of injury the most frequent and common complaints that patients complain about are the following swelling in the joint and discomfort when walking and running joint instability some cases, hyperemia of the skin in the area of damage is possible.

Indications for taping Initially, the application of tips was practiced exclusively in sports medicine, but now they are used for a variety of diseases and injuries:

• arthritis;

• arthrosis;

• miosis;

• hemartosis;

• tendovaginitis of the Achilles tendon;

• bruises;

• sprain;

• convulsions;

Swelling of the ankle joint consequences of a stroke football players, hockey players and other athletes apply tips to prevent injury anatomy of the ankle joint.

Before we start talking about kinesio taping of the joint, it is worth remembering the anatomy in order to correctly understand which anatomical structures we will work with.

The ankle joint (articulatio talocruralis) is formed by the articular surfaces of 3 bones: the tibia is the articular surface of the distal epiphysis; the fibula is the articular surface of the distal epiphysis; the talus is the articular surface of the block of the talus.

Ligaments that form the ankle joint Medial ligament (lig. mediale) - consists of 4 parts: (Anterior tibiotalar part (pars tibiotalaris anterior), tibial-navicular part (pars tibionavicularis), tibiocalcaneal part (pars tibiocalcanea), posterior tibial-talar part (pars tibiorularis posterior). Anterior talofibular ligament (lig. talofibulare anterius); Calcaneal-fibular ligament (lig. calcaneofibulare). Posterior talofibular ligament (lig. talofibulaere posterius) the ankle joint in its structure is block-shaped, the movements in the joint are helical types of joint ligament injuries remembering the anatomy of the joint, now let's move on to the types of injuries of the upper part of the lateral ligaments (especially the anterior lateral ones) - 85% of all ankle joint injuries of the lower part of the ligaments - 15%.the severity of the sprain ankle injuries are usually divided into 3 degrees there is a slight swelling in the joint area, the function is preserved or slightly reduced. Partial tear, swelling, swelling of tissues. Moderate dysfunction, moderately pronounced joint instability. Pain with weight bearing on the injured leg. Complete rupture of the ligaments, severe swelling and pain symptoms. Hematoma in the localization of torn ligaments. Sharp severe pain at the time of loading on the injured limb.

Benefits of taping

Multi-colored strips of kinesio tapes do not have a compressive effect and do not contain drugs. Proper taping of the ankle, made according to the physiological characteristics of the joint, performs several functions. Pain reduction. Swelling or bruising is characterized by local tissue deformation. The patch is able to lift the skin, pulling it towards itself. This allows you to restore blood microcirculation and remove inflammatory mediators as a result of its natural flow. The irritation of pain receptors decreases, due to which painful sensations are less pronounced and pass faster. Improved blood flow. Any injury leads to a local disruption of microcirculation. Due to tissue deformation, the outflow of blood and lymph in the damaged area is difficult. As a result, decay products are not removed, which slows down the healing process. In the area where the tape is applied, the skin contracts, thereby expanding the intercellular space. This leads to faster healing of the injury. Physiological movement of muscles. Sprains and injuries impair muscle movement. When the muscles work incorrectly, they are even more injured. Tapes are applied taking into account the physiological structure of not only ligaments, but also tendons, as well as lymph nodes. They form a vector of correct movement and help the muscles work in a natural direction. Muscle normalization trauma and overexertion negatively affect muscle function. Due to its elastic structure, kinesio tape relieves spasmodic muscles, relieving the load acting on them. Preventive use of tape will help to avoid overload in the future. Fast drying of the patch material from water and sweat. General features of ankle taping. Compliance with the basic principles of applying tapes will ensure maximum efficiency of the applied technique.

Taping rules:

Tape on the ankle joint should not be applied with obvious tension. It is necessary to glue a strip of tape on the ankle only in a relaxed state of the muscles. When applying the application, the ankle should be in the so-called "average physiological position». Before sticking the tape, for its tighter fit, you should remove all hair from the skin. To improve adhesion, it is necessary to additionally degrease the skin with an alcohol solution. Tape ends should be rounded - this significantly prolongs the duration of its use.

2. Methods of Kinesio Taping

Currently divided into two main methods:

Without tension - used in the acute period of injury. Kinesiology tape is applied to the tissue area in a stretched position without tension. If the application is performed correctly, convolutions will be observed - a kind of “waves” that provide tissue lifting, providing local anesthetic and lymphatic drainage effects. With tension - they paste over the injured muscle and / or ligamentous apparatus. The tape returns to the normal physiological position of the tissue. Kinesio Taping Techniques In order to correctly select the necessary combinations of applications, we will first deal with the techniques used in kinesiology taping. The main techniques for applying tips are usually divided into 2 large groups.

Muscular Techniques:

Relaxing applications;

Supporting applications.

Corrective techniques:

Mechanical - medium and strong tape tension;

Fascial – no tension or light tension of the tape;

Laxatives - light to moderate tension;

Functional - strong tension of the tape to limit the range of motion;

Lymphatic - without tension, to reduce swelling and pastosity of tissues;

Fixation - medium and strong tape tension to support the ligamentous apparatus. The therapist will determine the techniques based on anatomical features, the patient's history, and movement patterns. Properly selected techniques and tension can have a positive therapeutic effect immediately within a few minutes after applying the application.

Types of taping

Let's now figure out how and in what cases to tap the ankle joint. they can be divided into two more groups taping for joint injury preventive taping to prevent injury.it should be noted that with a complete rupture of the ligament, surgical treatment is indicated, after which it will be possible to use kinesio taping to reduce swelling after surgery. With an anguish, the following are shown: no load on the injured leg, rest for 5-7 days, cesio taping, orthotics to relieve stress. First of all, it will be effective to combine lymphatic drainage applications with supporting ones.

3. Results

Significant differences were found in the velocity, step length, stride length, and H-H base support among the 3 different taping methods (p<0.05). The ankle balance taping group showed significantly greater velocity, step length, and stride length in comparison to the placebo and no taping group. The ankle balance taping group showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in the H-H base support compared to the placebo and no taping groups, and the placebo group showed significantly greater velocity in comparison to the no taping group (p<0.05). In young, healthy women who received Kinesio Taping, favourable changes in stabilometric parameters were found indicating better ankle stability than in the group without taping.