The most common ankle injury seen in sports medicine clinics are inversion ankle injuries.
The most common ankle injury seen in sports medicine clinics are inversion ankle injuries. Inversion ankle sprains can injure and tear the anterior talofibular ligament, the calcaneofibular ligament , and the posterior talofibular ligament . Ankle brace s are typically used to help prevent excess motion and prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle joint (1,2).
Ankle support braces that cover more of the forefoot will decrease plantarflexion of the ankle and can lead to decreases in athletic performance. As a result, there has been a gain in popularity of the lace up ankle brace. A lace up ankle brace has been found to decrease the incidence of ankle sprains from 1.41 to 0.47 injures per 1000 events.
A study looking at ankle sprain incidence found that there was a 61% reduction in ankle sprain incidence in high school football players who wore a lace up ankle brace. Example of Lace Up Ankle Brace One of the most prevalent deterrents to wearing an ankle brace is athletes are concerned that braces may decrease their performance. A study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine compared an adaptive ankle brace, lace up ankle brace, and a rigid ankle brace.
They found that the lace up ankle brace was viewed by participants as providing as much stability as a rigid and adaptive brace on a patient survey. The lace up brace did slightly decrease a patient’s vertical countermovement jump. Researchers were unsure of the clinical significance of this.
A further study in the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation found that lace up ankle braces had a negative affect on vertical jump height and standing long jump distance. They found that the lace up ankle brace did not affect speed and agility. Use of a lace up ankle braces can be sport specific.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to evidence for a lace up ankle brace, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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