Effect of ankle support orthosis and kinesiotape on force control, muscle strength, and kinesiphobia in subjects with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial

to investigate the effect of external ankle supports (i.e. ankle support orthosis, Kinesiotape) in subjects with chronic ankle instability.

Parallel group, Randomized controlled trial with outcome assessor blinded

All the assessments, interventions, and data collection steps will be carried out at the School of sport sciences and health, Shahid Beheshti University. The outcome assessor and statistician will be blinded.

aged 18 - 40. at least one significant ankle sprain at least 12 months ago that resulted in pain, swelling, and physical activity restriction for at least 1 day. have not sprained their ankle within the six weeks prior to study onset. feeling of instability, at least two episodes of giving way in the past 6 months. Ankle instability Instrument: answer "yes" to at least 5 yes/no questions (This should include question 1, plus 4 others) Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool. Score of =<24. 20 min or greater of moderate physical activity level at least 3 days. having no mechanical instability

Three groups: ankle support orthosis group, Kinesiotape group, control group

Force sense Force steadiness

The group allocation will be performed through permuted block randomization at an assignment ratio of 1:1:1. For allocation concealment, the randomization codes will be kept in opaque, sealed, sequentially numbered envelopes. Sample size is estimated at 51, however, to take account of potential withdrawals, 60 patients (n=20 per group) will be recruited for the study. First, create and seal 20 treatment A envelopes, 20 treatment B envelopes, and 20 treatment C envelopes. To create a block of 6, we will select 2 treatment A envelopes, 2 treatment B envelopes, and 2 treatment C envelopes. W will shuffle these 6 envelopes thoroughly, and place this block of 6 in a separate pile. Then, we will prepare additional blocks of 6 until all 20 treatment A, B, and C envelopes have been used. All additional blocks will be placed in their own individual piles. We will have 10 individuals piles of shuffled blocks of 6.

The outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation, because all dependent variables will be measured without the orthosis and or kinesiotape, and the patients will remove their orthosis / kinesiotape before referring for post-intervention assessment. Furthermore, all data will be encoded to prevent bias and to blind the statistician.

Our research findings will be shared with all researchers, and practitioners. We will publish our research findings in scientific journals

All documents can be shared 1 year after article publication

Researchers and health practitioners

Use of data is only possible by mentioning the name and organizational affiliation of the correspond and co-author of the project and the published article.

Fatemeh azadinia

Send email to corresponding author.