Immediate effects of femoral external rotational and abductoral taping on ground reaction force characteristics during running

Introduction and aim: Taping is a common method used by athletes to improve muscular function. The aim was to assess the immediate effect of femoral external rotational and abductoral taping on three-dimensional ground reaction force characteristics, their time to peak, impulse, displacement of center of pressure, vertical loading rate, and free moment during stance phase of running. Method: 24 healthy men (age: 24.6±2.5 years; mass: 74.8±6.2 kg; 177.1±7.9 cm) were included in the study. Ground reaction force data was recorded by a Kistler force platform (sampling rate: 1000 Hz). Paired sample t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared to without taping condition, taping significantly reduced the peak impact and peak active vertical ground reaction forces during stance phase of running (P≤0.05; low to moderate effect size). Taping application increased and decreased the vertical loading rate (19%, P=0.047, moderate effect size) and the peak free moment values (P≤0.001), respectively. The values of the anterior-posterior and vertical impulses during taping condition were greater than that of without taping condition (P≤0.001; low effect size). Conclusion: Femoral external rotational and abductoral taping could improve the values of free moment, but this is not the case in vertical loading rate during the stance phase of running.