Ankle injuries are one of the most frequent injuries in high school sports. This negatively impacts both the athlete and their team. Ankle injuries result in significant time lost from sports activity, and they are often slow to heal, causing lingering disability. In addition, ankle injuries have a high re-injury rate, resulting in repeated injury and recovery cycles. Obviously, preventing ankle injuries in the first place is best. The practice of prophylactic, or preventative, ankle bracing and taping is one way to accomplish this.
Myths of Bracing and Taping
It is a common myth that wearing ankle braces or taping to prevent ankle injuries will weaken the ankle. In addition, some believe that it can lead to injuries in other parts of the leg. However, research disagrees with this. Studies show that bracing and taping are effective ways of preventing ankle injuries. Furthermore, athletes who have had a previous ankle injury receive even greater benefit from ankle taping and bracing compared to those without previous ankle injuries.
In fact, ankle bracing and taping may provide mechanical support, as well as increased awareness of the movement of the ankle. This can result in decreased risk of ankle injury. So, which is better for preventing ankle injuries – taping or bracing?
Brace or Tape?
Bracing allows the player to apply and adjust the brace throughout the activity. This keeps the support optimal throughout the practice or game. On the other hand, once tape is applied, it is not adjustable. Another disadvantage of taping is that it quickly loosens once the athlete starts to move and sweat. Typically, tape provides the greatest support only in the first 20 minutes. In addition, there are other advantages to bracing over taping. Braces are reusable and more cost effective in the long run. In comparison, traditional taping can cost up to three times more than a brace over the course of a season.
Bracing has its disadvantages, too. They are bulky and difficult to fit under uniforms and inside of shoes. Limited brace sizes means they don’t fit everyone perfectly. And, braces have a higher upfront cost than tape. On the other hand, when tape is correctly applied, it provides customized support to the ankle, and can be more comfortable and fit better in athletic shoes.
Best Practice for Preventing Ankle Injuries
The majority of studies on taping vs. bracing conclude that bracing is slightly more effective at preventing ankle injuries. In one study published by The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, the author followed 300 football players over a six-year period.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. Ask your athletic trainer to learn more about ankle bracing. They can help you decide if you will benefit from bracing and help find the right brace for you.
Written by:Lindsay Hagler, MS, ATC, CSCS athletic trainer forThe Center Foundationand Mountain View High School in Bend, OR. Learn more about LindsayHERE.
The Center Foundation places dedicated athletic trainers in local high schools to provide sports medicine services to young athletes at no charge to the students or their families. Learn more about our workHERE.
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References:
The Effect of Preventive Measures on the Incidence of Ankle Sprains, Verhagen, Evert A. L. M.; van Mechelen, Willem; de Vente, Wieke,Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.10(4):291-296, October 2000. (Accessed online November 2018).
FAQs
Best Practice for Preventing Ankle Injuries
Is taping or bracing better for ankle support? ›
Most have shown that braces are slightly more effective than taping but that both are better than no support at all. One study found that simply wearing high-top sneakers instead of low-tops prevented some ankle injuries and that high-tops plus taping had more than 50% fewer injuries than low-tops plus taping.
Does wearing an ankle brace prevent injury? ›
Current research indicates ankle brace use in high school-aged athletes lowers the incidence of acute ankle injuries, but not the severity. Ankle braces are not shown to reduce the severity of ankle, knee or other lower extremity injuries.
Is taping and bracing the prevention of ankle sprains? ›
Ankle ligament injuries as a result of a sprain are one of the most common injuries in athletes. Taping and bracing are both often used in the treatment and prevention of recurrent ankle sprains. These external ankle supports have been shown to be effective in the prevention of (recurrence) of ankle sprains.
What is the contemporary thought about using braces instead of taping for ankle injuries? ›
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.
What is the purpose of bracing or taping an injury? ›
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.
What are the disadvantages of ankle braces? ›
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.
Why is tape better than a brace? ›
Athletic taping brings many key benefits relative to bracing. You can more easily adapt it to the individual shape of the patient's ankle, knee joint, etc. In addition, there are many types of tape with varying strengths. You can use athletic tape to provide different levels of support to an injured joint.
Do ankle braces prevent rolled ankles? ›
sprain injury. The results of several studies indicate that ankle braces can reduce the incidence of ankle sprain injury among soccer players.
When should you brace your ankle? ›
Minor ankle ligament tears (Grade 1) usually don't require a brace unless you have to walk over very uneven terrain or want to continue playing sport throughout your recovery. You're very likely to benefit from wearing an ankle brace if you have a significant ankle ligament tear (Grade 2 or 3).
Taping helps reduce the range of motion at a joint. It provides the athlete with a sensation from the tap pulling on the skin, which tells the athlete to reduce the range of motion. Taping also provides support and helps prevent re-injury to an area of weakness.
Does taping ankles really help? ›
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.
What is the effectiveness of taping for the prevention of ankle ligament sprains? ›
Thorndike reported a minimum 50 per cent reduction in ankle injuries with taping for all matches and practices.
Do ankle braces slow you down? ›
Will the rigid ankle braces slow me down or impede my performance? There is no evidence that this is the case. If anything Active Ankle braces can only help your performance by keeping your ankles healthy and you in the game.
Is bracing better than taping ankle? ›
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.
Is it better to tape or brace your knees? ›
In general, the smaller, bonier bits of the body – like thumbs, fingers, toes, and wrists – are best supported by tape. These small bits of the body are meant to be mobile, something that tape can provide. Alternatively, areas that support the weight of the body, like knees and ankles, will benefit from bracing.
How does bracing prevent injury? ›
Ankle braces stabilize, support and limit range-of-motion of the ankle joint. For people who are prone to ankle injuries, braces are used to immobilize injured ankles or provide joint protection to injuries.
Which is better ankle support or ankle brace? ›
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.
What is the best strapping to support the ankle? ›
You can tape an ankle with Kinesio or athletic tape to provide stability and reduce swelling. How to do it properly can vary depending on the type of tape you use. Ankle tape can provide stability, support, and compression for the ankle joint. It can help reduce swelling after an ankle injury and prevent reinjury.
It is a common myth that wearing ankle braces or taping to prevent ankle injuries will weaken the ankle. In addition, some believe that it can lead to injuries in other parts of the leg. However, research disagrees with this. Studies show that bracing and taping are effective ways of preventing ankle injuries. Furthermore, athletes who have had a previous ankle injury receive even greater benefit from ankle taping and bracing compared to those without previous ankle injuries.
The majority of studies on taping vs. bracing conclude that bracing is slightly more effective at preventing ankle injuries. In one study published by The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, the author followed 300 football players over a six-year period.Comparing the two preventative therapies, they found that wearing an ankle brace was twice as effective for preventing ankle injuries as taping.