An interventional study of Balance and Strength Exercise Program and Exercise Program with Kinesio Taping in Chronic Ankle Instability, sponsored by Sport University of Tirana. Completed at 1 site in Albania. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 25 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-14.
Sponsored by Sport University of Tirana · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
Chronic ankle instability is a frequent condition among athletes and is associated with recurrent ankle sprains, impaired proprioception, muscle weakness, and deficits in postural control. These impairments may negatively influence functional and athletic performance and increase the risk of further injury. Neuromuscular rehabilitation programs that combine balance and strength training are commonly used to address these deficits; however, evidence regarding the additional value of adjunctive interventions such as kinesio taping remains limited.
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a structured neuromuscular rehabilitation program on static balance, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength in athletes with chronic ankle instability, and to determine whether the addition of kinesio taping provides additional effects. Participants meeting the eligibility criteria for chronic ankle instability were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three study groups.
The intervention consisted of a supervised six-week rehabilitation program focused on balance and strength exercises targeting the ankle joint. One intervention group received kinesio taping before each training session in addition to the exercise program, while the other intervention group performed the same rehabilitation program without taping. The control group continued its usual activities without receiving the specific rehabilitation program.
Participants underwent laboratory-based assessments before and after the intervention period. Static postural control was assessed using force-plate measurements. Jump performance was evaluated using countermovement jump and drop jump assessments, including countermovement jump height, drop jump ground contact time, and the flight time-to-contact time ratio as an indicator of reactive performance. Ankle muscle strength was assessed by measuring isometric inversion and eversion strength using a dynamometer.
The study design allowed comparison of changes in static postural control, jump performance, and ankle muscle strength among the three groups following the six-week intervention. The findings are intended to provide clinically relevant evidence for physiotherapists and sports rehabilitation professionals regarding exercise-based conservative management of chronic ankle instability and the potential additional effects of kinesio taping.
Sport University of Tirana is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria: History of at least one ankle sprain occurring at least 12 months prior to enrollment.
Presence of clinical signs of pain and inflammation. Most recent ankle sprain occurring at least 3 months before study inclusion. History of more than two episodes of "giving way". Self-reported ankle instability assessed using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) with a score of ≤25 points.
Exclusion Criteria:
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: Baseline and after the 6-week intervention
Ankle Inversion and Eversion Muscle Strength
Isometric ankle inversion and eversion muscle strength was assessed using the EasyForce® digital dynamometer (Meloq AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Three maximal voluntary isometric contractions were performed for each movement, and the mean value was used for analysis. Muscle strength was recorded in Newtons (N).
Time frame: Baseline and after the 6-week intervention
Drop Jump Contact Time
Drop jump performance was assessed using the Leonardo Mechanograph GRFP STD force platform (Novotec Medical GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany). Participants performed a bilateral drop jump from a 40-cm platform, followed by an immediate rebound after landing. Three trials were performed, and contact time was recorded in seconds (s). Lower contact time values indicated better reactive performance.
Time frame: Baseline and after the 6-week intervention
Reactive Strength Ratio (RSR)
Reactive Strength Ratio (RSR) was assessed during the drop jump using the Leonardo Mechanograph GRFP force plate system (Novotec Medical GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany). RSR was automatically calculated by the manufacturer's software as the ratio of flight time to ground contact time (ta/tc). Participants performed a bilateral drop jump from a 40-cm platform, followed by an immediate rebound while minimizing ground contact time. Three valid trials were performed, separated by approximately 60 seconds of rest, and the mean value of the three trials was used for analysis. Higher RSR values indicated better reactive performance.
Time frame: Baseline and after the 6-week intervention
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared due to confidentiality considerations and institutional data protection policies. Only aggregated, anonymized results will be reported in publications.
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