CONTEXT

Taping and orthoses are frequently applied to control excessive foot pronation to treat or prevent musculoskeletal pain and injury of the lower limb. The mechanism(s) by which these devices bring about their clinical effects are at best speculative and require systematic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the initial effect of the augmented low Dye taping technique (ALD) on plantar foot pressures during walking and jogging.

DESIGN

Within-subjects, repeated-measures randomized control trial.

SETTING

Gait research laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Fifteen women and 7 men with an average age of 28.0 +/- 7.4 years who were asymptomatic.

INTERVENTION(S): Participants walked and jogged along a 12-m walkway before and after the application of ALD. The untaped side served as the control.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Peak and mean maximum plantar pressure data were calculated for the medial and lateral areas of the rear and midfoot and the medial, central, and lateral forefoot areas. Thus, a 3-factor model was tested: condition (ALD, control) x time (preapplication, postapplication) x area (medial and lateral rearfoot and midfoot and medial, central, and lateral forefoot).

RESULTS

Significant 3-way interactions were present for both peak and mean maximum plantar pressure during walking (F (6,126) = 9.55, P = .006 and F (6,126) = 11.36, P = .003, respectively) and jogging (F (6,126) = 5.76, P = .026 and F (6,126) = 4.56, P = .045, respectively) tasks. The ALD predominantly increased plantar pressures in the lateral midfoot during walking and jogging. In addition, tape reduced mean maximum pressure at the medial forefoot and at the medial rearfoot during walking.

CONCLUSIONS

The ALD, which has previously been shown to reduce excessive pronation, produced significant increases in lateral midfoot plantar pressures, thereby providing additional information to be considered when the mechanism(s) of action of such a treatment are modeled.