**4. Discussion**

This research compared the ankle taping on ankle mobility during three specific moments on a daily basis in youth elite soccer and basketball players. The results of the present study sugges<sup>t</sup> that a prophylactic approach, such as ankle taping, is effective for the ROM restriction of the ankle joint immediately after the taping application in soccer and basketball players without differences between groups. However, in the final minutes of the session, where the intensity and the fatigue levels were at its highest peak [23], the ROM values were similar to the baseline values.

According to the findings of the present study, several authors reported the effectiveness of the ankle taping for the ankle ROM restriction [10,12]. For example, Quackenbush et al. argued that the ankle taping was an effective prophylactic method without decreasing jump performance in athletes. [24] Willeford et al. performed a study in collegiate football players and reported that with a bandage of the ankle joint —self-adherent and lace-up ankle brace —a ROM restriction was produced without affecting the dynamic balance [25]. According to the results of the present study, an ankle dorsiflexion ROM increase was observed immediately post-match in soccer players and basketball players—without a bandage [26,27]. However, in both groups, a decrease of ankle dorsiflexion ROM was observed 48 h post-match. Therefore, prevention and recovery strategies in order to minimize the ankle dorsiflexion restriction should be performed in soccer and basketball players. Regarding muscle fatigue and biomechanics, chronic ankle instability and fatigue were related to postural control by disturbances detected on sagittal-plane joints adjacent to the ankle, which may have influence in the ankle dorsiflexion ROM values after training sessions [28].

In addition to the above, landing mechanisms have been defined as a risk factor for ankle sprains in sports populations, De Ridder et al. argued that taping is able to stabilize the ankle joint prior to touch down, placing the ankle joint in a safe position before the landing phase [29]. In addition, Chinn et al. reported that the changes in the foot positioning in individuals with ankle taping could be a protective effect for the prevention of the lateral ankle sprains [30]. In addition, ankle taping increases the confident sense in dynamic-balance activities [31].

Regarding the ankle dorsiflexion asymmetry concept, Rabin et al. determined that weight-bearing ankle ROM should not be assumed to be bilaterally symmetrical [32]. However, the results of the present study reported an asymmetry increase when the taping was applied. Currently, research about the normative values for weight-bearing ankle ROM symmetries reported a dorsiflexion ROM increase of 23% in male military subjects for the dominant side with respect no-dominant side [32]. In the context of the ankle dorsiflexion asymmetry in professional soccer players, Moreno-Pérez et al. reported that ankle dorsiflexion ROM increased after a match in the dominant ankle but decreased 48 h post-match when the post-match assessments in both ankles—dominant and non-dominant—were compared [26]. In this line, a recent study reported that the ankle dorsiflexion ROM was increased post-match from pre-match in both dominant and non-dominant limbs and decreased 48 h post-game in semi-professional players [27]. An asymmetry increase immediately after the ankle tape application could be explained by the restriction of the musculoskeletal structures which surround the ankle joint or alterations of the sensitive proprioception mechanisms due to the taping application [33].

Other useful taping alternatives for ankle sprain prevention could be the kinesiology tape, [7] kinesiotape, [34], or distal fibular taping [35].

#### *4.1. Clinical Considerations*

Based on the prior literature and the findings of the present study, it could be supported that ankle taping was an e ffective and prophylactic method to reduce the ankle dorsiflexion ROM and, consequently, for the prevention of ankle sprain in sports populations. However, the fact that no di fferences were observed for the soccer left ankle, both basketball ankles from baseline to post-training values could be defined as the ankle taping having "dynamic e ffectiveness". Therefore, further research is needed in order to develop new strategies to maintain the initial e ffectiveness throughout the training session and games. For example, the addition of active stripes or to intensify the ankle taping in the training pauses and games half-times.

#### *4.2. Limitations and Future Lines*

Some limitations should be acknowledged in the present study. Although the physical therapist had more than 5 years of experience in taping strategies and functional assessments, the fact that both teams had not been taped and assessed by the same therapist may be a limitation as a human bias for the ankle dorsiflexion ROM and asymmetry were variables. Another limitation could be the fact that just one session was evaluated for each group. Weight, height, and BMI variables were descriptive variables and were found obvious di fferences between groups. It would be interesting to take them into account for the comparison between groups. In addition, the di fferences between these two sports in training skills in the footwork and training sessions specific exercises could also be a limitation.

Further research is needed in order to evaluate dynamic balance, landing situations, and lower limb stability with a pressure platform. In addition, electromyography or ultrasound imaging assessments for the muscular activation and the muscle architecture of the muscles related to the ankle joint could be useful to explore the e ffects of the ankle taping in a deep manner. Several authors reported the effectiveness of ankle taping also in psychological aspects such as better perceptions of confidence and reassurance; thus, it would be interesting to study these variables in soccer and basketball populations.
