Twenty patients with chronic ankle instability were examined radiographically for anterior talar displacement and talar tilting. The examinations were carried out with the ankles untaped and taped, and the taped ankles were examined again after 20 min running. The measurable instability was significantly improved after taping, but after exercise this was seen only for talar tilting. Generally, the best stabilizing effect of taping was obtained in the ankles with the greatest degree of instability. After exercise, all but one of the adhesive taping bandages were loose and were mostly acting as canvas boots, affording the ankle only limited protection.