Effects of ankle taping on the neuromuscular regulation of impact forces at heel strike

Abstract

Surface electromyography (EMG), normalized to 75% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), was analyzed in 10 male and 10 female college aged Ss during barefoot untaped and ankle taped walking and running. Using a foot switch as a time marker, peak EMG amplitude in mV and time to peak amplitude were calculated for the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GN) muscles relative to time of heel strike. In walking, the time to peak TA significantly (p < .05) preceded the time to peak GN, with ankle taping having no significant (p > .05) effect on the temporal response of triphasic burst pattern. EMG amplitude during walking presented with variability suggesting this as an area of individual difference. The temporal response of the TA and GN relative to heel strike during untaped running was characterized as a triphasic burst pattern across both genders. From this pattern there was a significant (p < .05) difference between the time peak for initial TA (TA1) and GN, as well as 'FA1 and a second TA burst (TA2), but not between GN and TA2. Normalized amplitude gender comparisons, as well taped and untaped running comparisons, revealed no significant (p > .05) main effects or interaction. However, the triphasic burst pattern during taped running was either significantly (p < .05) delayed by a mean of .50 sec or completely altered as indicated by lack of a TA2 in 50% of the Ss tested.