Delayed Latency of Peroneal Reflex to Sudden Inversion with Ankle Taping or Bracing

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of ankle taping and bracing based on the peroneal reflex in the hypermobile and normal ankle joints with and without history of ankle injury. Thirty-six ankle joints of 18 collegiate American football athletes with and without previous history of injury were studied. The angle of talar tilt (TT) was measured by stress radiograph for classifying normal (TT ≤ 5°) or hypermobile (TT > 5°) ankles. They were tested with taping, bracing, and without any supports as a control. The latency of peroneus longus muscle was measured by a sudden inversion of 25 degrees using surface EMG signals. The results of the present study show no significant three-way Group (hypermobile or normal ankles) by History (previously injured or uninjured ankles) by Condition (control, taping, or bracing) interaction, while Condition main effect was significant (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between control (80.8 ms) and taping (83.8 ms, p < 0.01), between control and bracing (83.0 ms, p < 0.05), but not between taping and bracing (p > 0.05). In conclusion, ankle taping and bracing delayed the peroneal reflex latency not only for hypermobile ankles and/or injured ankle joints but also for intact ankle joints.

Key words

Peroneal reflex - inversion - stress radiograph - hypermobility - ankle injury

References

• 1 Ashton‐Miller J A, Ottaviani R A, Hutchinson C, Wojtys E M. What best protects the inverted weightbearing ankle against further inversion? Evertor muscle strength compares favorably with shoe height, athletic tape, and three orthoses.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 800-809
• 2 Bosien W R, Staples O S, Russell S W. Residual disability following acute ankle sprains.  J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1955;  37 1237-1243
• 3 Brown I E, Loeb G E. A reductionist approach to creating and using neuromusculoskeletal models. Winters JM, Crago PE Biomechanics and Neural Control of Posture and Movement. New York; Springer-Verlag 2000: 148-163
• 4 Bruns J, Staerk H. Mechanical ankle stabilisation due to the use of orthotic devices and peroneal muscle strength: an experimental investigation.  Int J Sports Med. 1992;  13 611-615
• 5 Brunt D, Andersen J C, Huntsman B, Reinhert L B, Thorell A C, Sterling J C. Postural responses to lateral perturbation in healthy subjects and ankle sprain patients.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24 171-176
• 6 Callaghan M J. Role of ankle taping and bracing in the athlete.  Br J Sports Med. 1997;  31 102-108
• 7 Cox J S, Hewes T F. “Normal” talar tilt angle.  Clin Orthop. 1979;  140 37-41
• 8 Ebig M, Lephart S M, Burdett R G, Miller M C, Pincivero D M. The effect of sudden inversion stress on EMG activity of the peroneal and tibialis anterior muscles in the chronically unstable ankle.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1997;  26 73-77
• 9 Ferguson Jr A B. The case against ankle taping.  J Sports Med. 1973;  1 46-47
• 10 Freeman M AR, Dean M RE, Hanham I WF. The etiology and prevention of functional instability of the foot.  J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1965;  47 678-685
• 11 Garrick J G, Requa R K. Role of external support in the prevention of ankle sprains.  Med Sci Sports. 1973;  5 200-203
• 12 Isakov E, Mizrahi J, Solzi P, Susak Z, Lotem M. Response of the peroneal muscles to sudden inversion of the ankle during standing.  Int J Sports Biomech. 1986;  2 100-109
• 13 Johnson M B, Johnson C L. Electromyographic response of peroneal muscles in surgical and nonsurgical injured ankles during sudden inversion.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1993;  18 497-501
• 14 Karlsson J, Andreasson G O. The effect of external ankle support in chronic lateral ankle joint instability: an electromyographic study.  Am J Sports Med. 1992;  20 257-261
• 15 Konradsen L, Ravn J B. Ankle instability caused by prolonged peroneal reaction time.  Acta Orthop Scand. 1990;  61 388-390
• 16 Konradsen L, Voigt M, Højsgaard C. Ankle inversion injuries. The role of the dynamic defense mechanism.  Am J Sports Med. 1997;  25 54-58
• 17 Larsen E. Taping the ankle for chronic instability.  Acta Orthop Scand. 1984;  55 551-553
• 18 Löfvenberg R, Kärrholm J, Sundelin G, Ahlgren O. Prolonged reaction time in patients with chronic lateral instability of the ankle.  Am J Sports Med. 1995;  23 414-417
• 19 Lynch S A, Eklund U, Gottlieb D, Renstrom P AFH, Beynnon B. Electromyographic latency changes in the ankle musculature during inversion moments.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 362-369
• 20 Manfroy P P, Ashton-Miller J A, Wojtys E M. The effect of exercise, prewrap, and athletic tape on the maximal active and passive ankle resistance of ankle inversion.  Am J Sports Med. 1997;  25 156-163
• 21 Nawoczenski D A, Owen M G, Ecker M L, Altman B, Epler M. Objective evaluation of peroneal response to sudden inversion stress.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1985;  7 107-109
• 22 Ricard M D, Sherwood S M, Schulthies S S, Knight K L. Effects of tape and exercise on dynamic ankle inversion.  J Athl Train. 2000;  35 31-37
• 23 Thelen D G, Schultz A B, Alexander N B, Ashton-Miller J A. Effects of age on rapid ankle torque development.  J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1996;  51 M226-M232
• 24 Vaes P, DeBoeck H, Handelberg F, Opdecam P. Comparative radiologic study of the influence of ankle joint bandages on ankle stability.  Am J Sports Med. 1985;  13 46-50
• 25 Vaes P H, Duquet W, Casteleyn P P, Handelberg F, Opdecam P. Static and dynamic roentgenographic analysis of ankle stability in braced and nonbraced stable and functionally unstable ankles.  Am J Sports Med. 1998;  26 692-702