Ankle Brace vs. Ankle Tape: Which is Best? (2024)

FAQs

Ankle Brace vs. Ankle Tape: Which is Best? ›

For the prevention of ankle injuries, the recommendation is for the athlete to purchase ankle braces. The reasons for this include: Reduced cost of ankle braces versus purchasing athletic tape. Reduced time for certified athletic trainers in preparing teams for practice/competition.

Comparing the two preventative therapies, they found that wearing an ankle brace was twice as effective for preventing ankle injuries as taping. There are many types of ankle braces on the market: soft, semi-rigid, and rigid, and each has its own benefits depending on the situation.

While ankle taping won't actually "fix" underlying joint issues (like chronic instability, tendinopathies, etc.), it still can help lower the risk of foot injuries by offering support and stabilization. "Think of tape as like a more mobile version of a boot, cast or brace.

Wearing an ankle brace can cause reliance

Wearing an ankle brace for too long can cause a reliance on it instead of the natural strength of the ankle. If your young athlete only wears an ankle brace after an injury and does not undergo rehabilitation, the ankle may remain weak, even after healing.

Wearing an Ankle Brace. Wearing an ankle brace has some benefits over taping an ankle. Taping is more time-consuming than putting on a brace and there's greater room for error. If the ankle isn't taped properly, it won't offer enough support to reduce the risk of injury.

According to most research and our own clinical experience, semi-rigid braces work better for ankle sprains. This is due to the extra support they provide your ankle ligaments and joints. Unfortunately, soft supports do not offer enough support to keep your ligaments safe from further injury while you heal.

You should not sleep with your ankle wrapped in athletic tape but you can sleep with your ankle wrapped in Kinesio tape. Athletic tape is rigid and won't allow for much movement. Athletic tape should only be worn for a few hours at a time. Kinesio tape is flexible and waterproof.

If you wear an orthosis or brace on your feet, ankles or knees, you need to wear some sort of sock underneath it. The sock protects your skin, keeps your skin dry and helps prevent blisters or sores. For the best protection, wear a sock that extends past the top of your brace.

If the bandage starts to feel tight, or if the area below it feels numb or tingly, or is cool, loosen it. Keep the bandage snug during the day, but loosen it before you go to bed. Remember, just because your ankle is wrapped doesn't mean you should use it. You need to rest it and give it time to heal.

Ankle Injuries: Kinesiology tape is suitable for a wide range of ankle injuries, including ligament sprains, tendonitis, muscle strains, and general ankle instability. It can help relieve pain, reduce swelling, support the muscles, and improve joint proprioception during both athletic activities and everyday movements.

How long should you keep tape on your ankle? ›

How long do I leave the strapping tape on for? Strapping should last and be effective for approximately three days, sometimes lasting up to a week.

If you have a severe ankle sprain, your doctor or physio may advise that you wear your brace all day during the first few weeks. In all other cases, ankle braces only have to be worn when you do an activity that is likely to twist or roll the ankle.

Use braces, compression, or supports should be for daytime use only. However, you can use an ankle wrap at night for extra support. Make sure the wrap stays loose enough for some movement and circulation. Do not wrap the foot as tight as you would in daytime use for more movement.

You may be able to walk with an ankle splint, but often not right away. After injuries such as sprains, fractures, and dislocations occur, they usually need time to heal before weight-bearing. Walking or weight bearing too soon may slow healing or cause further damage.

Both ankle taping and wearing an ankle brace during sports and activity can reduce the risk of an ankle injury, however, an ankle brace is generally considered the best choice for ankle protection.

The general consensus is that taping does help prevent re-injury. There are two most likely explanations for this. First, tape gives the joint mechanical support. The tape keeps the ankle joint from moving too far in any one direction.

What Is Taping and Bracing? This is when tape is applied to a part of the body in a specific way in order to either stabilise an injured joint or facilitate the action of a muscle. For example, strong tape might be applied to an ankle after a sprain to help support the healing ligament and to prevent further damage.

Wrap the ankle with an Ace Bandage or Coban Self-Adhering Wrap, to support the ankle and minimize the rapid swelling that occurs immediately after injury. Check the toes often to make sure there's blood circulation beyond the bandage. If they turn blue or numb, loosen the wrap slightly.

The second method is ankle bracing: the use of a pre-fabricated ankle sleeve with adjustable straps. Good braces mimic the effect of taping and are easily applied yourself. These are especially good when there is chronic ankle instability and the use of tape over and over again can become uncomfortable and expensive.

For acute injuries, a walking boot, followed by a rigid ankle brace is advised. Eventually moving to semi-rigid ankle support. For ankle sprain prevention, the Aryse stability ankle system is a great option.

Which is better, KT tape or knee brace? ›

Choosing between K-tape and knee guards boils down to whether you're actually injured or not. If you want to reduce soreness or have recovered from an injury enough that you don't need therapy, you can probably wear the tape. But if you're still nursing a knee or leg injury, get yourself the guards.

Use braces, compression, or supports should be for daytime use only. However, you can use an ankle wrap at night for extra support. Make sure the wrap stays loose enough for some movement and circulation. Do not wrap the foot as tight as you would in daytime use for more movement.

The Ultra 360 laces up to lock your ankle in place while the figure-8 straps provide 360º of ankle support to help prevent excessive ankle rolling. The multi-adjustable design allows you to customize your level of support.