Effect of an Ankle Stabilization Strap Using a Badaging Technique on Ankle Range of Motion, Balance, and Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Elastic ankle straps are frequently used to improve ankle stability; however, they often fail to provide adequate support due to material limitations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of an ankle stabilization strap applied using a bandaging technique on ankle range of motion, balance, and spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with chronic stroke.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either an ankle stabilization strap with bandaging technique (ASB, n = 14) group or an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO, n = 14) group. Both groups participated in treadmill gait training for 10 min per day, five days per week, for four weeks. Outcome measures included ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, total center of pressure displacement, timed up and go test, gait speed, and step length. A mixed-design analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

All outcome variables showed significant group-by-time interaction effects, and the ASB group exhibited significant within-group improvements after the intervention ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The ankle stabilization strap applied using a bandaging technique effectively improved ankle mobility, balance, and gait in patients with chronic stroke, suggesting its potential as a useful intervention in stroke rehabilitation.