ability to actively recreate a randomly selected target
position. These ankle measures were taken for both
plantar flexion and inversion with 20º plantar flexion
before and after the application of KinesioTM tape.
An active RJPS paradigm was selected in order to
utilize a well accepted repositioning technique
originally forwarded for the ankle by Glencross and
Thornton (1981) and then further developed by
Barrack and colleagues (1983) for RJPS at the knee.
Due to the fact that cutaneous mechanoreceptors are
stimulated during both passive and active
movements, it was assumed that the chosen
paradigm would successfully test for a treatment
effect of KinesioTM tape.
Ankle position data was measured using and
instrumented platform (Figure 1) with a moveable
footplate capable of providing measures of ankle
joint position. The footplate was stabilized
throughout testing with the use of a counterbalance
system, which created an unresisted range of motion
at the talocrural joint. Attached to the platform was a
precision potentiometer (Spectrol, Type 157,
Ontario, CA), which allowed a measure of specific
angular position digitally, displaying the position to
the nearest tenth of a degree on a digital liquid
crystal display and computer data collection system
(see below). Joint repositioning trials were colleted
at a rate of 100 Hz. Laboratory tests of this apparatus
have demonstrated a repeatable range of motion
error of less that ± 0.05°. The potentiometer was
aligned with lateral aspect of the ankle to assure that
the numbers supplied were accurate readings for the
talocrural joint in the sagittal plane. During
inversion with 20° of plantar flexion condition, the
potentiometer was aligned with the center of axis of
motion of the sub-talar joint in the coronal plane
with an anterior tilt of 20°. This information was
then recorded on a computer through a 16-bit analog
to a digital board using Bioware® V.3.22 (Kistler
Instrument Corporation, Amherst, NY) data
collection software. A range of motion block was
used to set the talocrural neutral position (0º),
achieved when the foot is at a right angle to the tibia.
Upon completion of data collection with each
subject the RJPS apparatus was recalibrated to
assure accuracy throughout data collection.
Figure 1. Ankle joint position sense apparatus.