Effects of Wrist Taping Pressures on the Maximum Dorsal Flexion Angle

This study aimed to examine the effects of different taping pressures with or without external force on the maximum dorsal flexion angle (DFA). Twenty-two healthy male university students with >5 years of athletic experience participated. A qualified trainer wound a rigid tape thrice around subject’s wrist joint. Taping pressure was measured using the pressure measuring system AMI3037-SB. Independent variables were five experimental conditions (5 hPa, 30 hPa, 60 hPa, and 90 hPa, and control) and two measurement conditions for the wrist joint DFA with non-external and external forces. In the former, the subject flexed the wrist joint himself (active DFA), while in the latter, a trainer helped in flexion (passive DFA). The dependent variable was the maximum DFA. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA (taping pressure × different DFA measurement) and multiple comparison tests showed that passive DFA was significantly larger than active DFA under all taping pressure conditions. Active DFA was smaller under 30-hPa condition than under the 5-hPa condition, and was smaller under 60-hPa conditions than under control and 5-hPa conditions, and was smaller under 90-hPa condition than under the other conditions. Passive DFA was smaller under 30and 60-hPa conditions than under control and 5-hPa conditions, and was smaller under 90hPa condition than under control, 5-, and 30-hPa conditions. In conclusion, the passive DFA is larger than the active DFA, regardless of taping pressure. Wrist taping with pressure over 30 hPa limits DFA, particularly at 90 hPa.