Kinesiology Taping and Ankle Stability in Acute Injuries During Stair Descent

Background: Acute ankle injuries are common in sports and daily activities. Kinesiology taping enhances lower limb motion patterns, joint stability, and balance during descending stair activity in such patients. The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the biomechanical impacts exerted by a KT group and an ST group on the lower limbs of patients with acute ankle injuries while descending stairs. Methods: The study included 27 participants with acute ankle injuries, who underwent biomechanical assessment under both KT and ST conditions. An integrated Vicon motion capture system, AMTI force platform, and electromyography (EMG) sensors were utilized to comprehensively evaluate biomechanical performance. Participants completed 20 descending stair trials under each condition, with joint stiffness, center of mass (COM), and bone displacement identified as key metrics for assessing stability. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests and statistical parametric mapping (SPM1D), were employed to identify significant biomechanical differences between the two conditions.