Effect of Elastic Low-Dye Taping on First Ray Mobility

• Main Authors: Jui-Min Tai, 戴瑞敏
• Other Authors: 柴惠敏
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/35005167502613905238

碩士 === 臺灣大學 === 物理治療學研究所 === 98 === First ray is defined as a functional unit which is composed of the first metatarsal and first cuneiform bones. It plays an important role during weight-bearing activities, especially at the midstance and propulsive phases during ambulation. A pronated foot is usually associated with dorsiflexed first ray, developing foot pain, abnormal gait pattern, or injuries to other weight-bearing joints. Although low-Dye taping is used clinically to treat first ray disorders, there has been no evidence-based research to explore its effects on first ray mobility. Lack of a valid and reliable clinical measurement tool makes the research be difficult. In literature review, some authors used a complicated setup to measure first ray mobility while some used less reliable tools. Our research team modified the first ray ruler and found its high reliability in 2007. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the effects of elastic low-Dye taping on first ray mobility using modified first ray ruler and motion analysis system in individuals with pronated foot. The objectives were (1) to compare the differences in first ray position and mobility between with and without elastic low-Dye taping in individuals with pronated foot and (2) to compare the differences in the segmental angle of the first metatarsal bone and the angle of the metatarsophalangeal joint between with and without elastic low-Dye taping in individuals with pronated foot. The present research was a convenience sampling, prospective, quasi-experimental, randomized-order, and pretest/posttest design. Twenty-three persons with pronated foot participated in this study. The position of the first ray at the subtalar neutral position as well as dorsal and plantar mobility of the first ray were measured at the sitting position using a modified first ray ruler while the segmental angle of the first metatarsal bone and first metatarsophalangeal angles during push-off were measured using motion analysis system on the same day. Each participant received those two tests under two conditions, with or without taping, in a random order and with a 20-min rest interval in between. For each condition, the first ray mobility test was performed first and then the push-off test. All data with normal distribution were examined using the paired t-tests to compare the differences between taping and non-taping conditions whereas those with non-normal distribution were tested using the Mann-Whitney U test. All statistical analyses were executed using SAS v.9.13. The significant level was set at α = 0.05 while the power was at 0.8. The results showed that application of elastic low-Dye taping changed the first ray position to a more plantarflexed position for these participants and returned to their nearly normal mobility in non-weight–bearing condition. Elastic low-Dye taping also significantly increased first metatarsophalangeal joint angle in weight–bearing condition only based on the similar segmental angle of the first metatarsal bone during push-off motion. Additionally, the reliability and validity tests for the modified ruler prior to this experiment also provides a powerful evidence to support that the modified first ray ruler presents a high reliability and validity.