Ankle Taping vs Ankle Bracing in the Athletic Community
Introduction: The lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is one of the most common injures of the lower extremity with nearly 2 million people affected annually by LAS in the United States alone. Research needs to be done in order to determine whether ankle taping or ankle bracing is better for an individual who has sustained a LAS injury.
Hypothesis: Before any research was conducted, it was hypothesized that ankle taping would be more beneficial to the athlete after sustaining a lateral ankle sprain. On the other hand, the assumption that the soft ankle brace would be more advantageous to the active individual when used as a prophylactic measure was also hypothesized.
Methods: Systematic review of the lateral ankle sprain with a focus on ankle bracing and ankle taping.
Results: Braces may have a detrimental effect on lower extremity’s ability to attenuate vertical ground reaction forces during a landing exercise (2). Individuals with chronic ankle instability displayed motor control instability bilaterally (7). Low hip abductor strength increased the risk of future injury within athletes (10). The application of the semi-rigid brace led to reductions in inversion angles during injury relevant movements (3). Collegiate athletes with previous history of ankle sprains have a greater predisposition to LAS (8). Tape and lace-up braces provided equal range of motion and stability (12).
Conclusion: Range of motion within the ankle joint is limited through both ankles taping and ankle bracing tactics. Personal preference of the athlete should be held in high regard when choosing between methods of ankle stabilization.
EXSC 425, Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injuries
Heike McNeil
S100
1 – 1:30 PM