Background: An excessive pronated foot is defined as a flattening or complete loss of the medial longitudinal arch. Excessive foot pronation is considered to have high risk factors of overuse injuries in the lower limb. Various treatments have been investigated in attempts to control excessive pronation.
Objects: This meta-analysis identifies the effects of an anti-pronation taping technique using different materials.
Methods: The electronic databases used include MEDLINE, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Science Direct, the Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), the Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), the Korea National Library, and the Korean Medical Database (studies published up to July 31, 2019). The database search used the following keywords: "foot drop" OR "foot arch" OR "foot pronation" OR "flat foot (pes planus)" AND "taping" OR "support." Eight eligible studies were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of anti-pronation taping in study and control groups.
Results: The overall random effect size (Hedges’ g) of the anti-pronation taping technique was 0.147 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -.214 to .509). When the effect (Hedges’ g) was compared by the type of tape material, rigid tape (RT; Lowdye taping) was .213 (95% CI: -.278 to .704) and kinesiotape (KT; arch support taping) was -.014 (95% CI: -.270 to .242). Based on this meta-analysis, it was not possible to identify the extent to which anti-pronation taping was effective in preventing navicular drop, improving balance, or changing foot pressure. Only three of the eight eligible studies applied KT on excessive pronated feet, and the outcome measure areas were different to those of the RT studies. The KT studies used EMG data, overall foot posture index (FPI) scores, and rear foot FPI scores. In contrast, the RT studies measured navicular heights, various foot angles, and foot pressure.
Conclusion: This review could not find any conclusive evidence about the effectiveness of any taping method for patients with pronated feet. Future studies are needed to develop the anti-pronation taping technique based on the clinical scientific evidence.