Ankle Bracing is Effective for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Acute Ankle Injuries in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Barelds, Ingrid; Broek, Anke G. van den; Huisstede, Bionka M. A.

doi:10.1007/s40279-018-0993-2

Cited by 35 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…It has to be mentioned, however, that two more recent publications reported significant reductions in overall ankle injury rates also in adolescents without previous ankle injuries, which challenges this hypothesis [ 56 , 57 ]. Similarly, a recent review and meta-analysis indicates that braces may also be effective in primary prevention of ankle injuries in general [ 9 ]. Still, the results of the present study suggest that healthy people do not seem to be as reliant on external ankle support as people with unstable ankle joints in movements with a change of direction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

People with chronic ankle instability benefit from brace application in highly dynamic change of direction movements

Fuerst

Gollhofer

et al. 2021

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research

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Background The application of ankle braces is an effective method for the prevention of recurrent ankle sprains. It has been proposed that the reduction of injury rates is based on the mechanical stiffness of the brace and on beneficial effects on proprioception and neuromuscular activation. Yet, how the neuromuscular system responds to the application of various types of ankle braces during highly dynamic injury-relevant movements is not well understood. Enhanced stability of the ankle joint seems especially important for people with chronic ankle instability. We therefore aimed to analyse the effects of a soft and a semi-rigid ankle brace on the execution of highly dynamic 180° turning movements in participants with and without chronic ankle instability. Methods Fifteen participants with functional ankle instability, 15 participants with functional and mechanical ankle instability and 15 healthy controls performed 180° turning movements in reaction to light signals in a cross-sectional descriptive laboratory study. Ankle joint kinematics and kinetics as well as neuromuscular activation of muscles surrounding the ankle joint were determined. Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance and post-hoc t-tests were calculated. Results Maximum ankle inversion angles and velocities were significantly reduced with the semi-rigid brace in comparison to the conditions without a brace and with the soft brace (p ≤ 0.006, d ≥ 0.303). Effect sizes of these reductions were larger in participants with chronic ankle instability than in healthy controls. Furthermore, peroneal activation levels decreased significantly with the semi-rigid brace in the 100 ms before and after ground contact. No statistically significant brace by group effects were found. Conclusions Based on these findings, we argue that people with ankle instability in particular seem to benefit from a semi-rigid ankle brace, which allows them to keep ankle inversion angles in a range that is comparable to values of healthy people. Lower ankle inversion angles and velocities with a semi-rigid brace may explain reduced injury incidences with brace application. The lack of effect of the soft brace indicates that the primary mechanism behind the reduction of inversion angles and velocities is the mechanical resistance of the brace in the frontal plane.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

People with chronic ankle instability benefit from brace application in highly dynamic change of direction movements

Fuerst

Gollhofer

et al. 2021

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research

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“…It is known that ankle sprains are likely to occur later during sports matches and fatigue may play a role in that. 9 As a preventive approach, ankle taping and bracing have been suggested 10,11 to avoid and control the excessive movements related to ankle sprains. 12 In the last decade, the use of Kinesio taping, which involved the application of a specific elastic tape, has become increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional athletic tape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinesio taping does not improve ankle functional or performance in people with or without ankle injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2020

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Objective: To investigate whether Kinesio taping technique, applied to ankles of healthy people as a preventive intervention and people with ankle injuries, is superior to sham or alternative interventions on ankle function. Data Sources: Medline, Embase, Amed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science, from inception to August 2020. Review methods: The terms “ankle” and “kinesio taping” were used in the search strategy. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (including crossover design) investigating Kinesio taping effects on ankle functional performance compared to any alternative or control/sham technique. Results: From 5,572 studies, 84 met the eligibility criteria which evaluated 2,684 people. Fifty-eight meta-analyses from 44 studies were performed (participants in meta-analyses ranging from 27 to 179). Fifty-one meta-analyses reported ineffectiveness of Kinesio taping: moderate evidence for star excursion balance test (anterior direction), jump distance, dorsiflexion range of motion, and plantar flexion torque for healthy people (effect size = 0.08–0.13); low to very-low evidence for balance, jump performance, range of motion, proprioception, muscle capacity and EMG for healthy people; balance for older people; and balance and jump performance for people with chronic instability. Seven meta-analyses reported results favoring Kinesio taping (effect size[95% CI]): low to very-low evidence for balance (stabilometry, ranging from 0.42[0.07–0.77] to 0.65[0.29–1.02]) and ankle inversion (0.84[0.28–1.40]) for healthy people; balance for older people (COP velocity, 0.90[0.01–1.78]); and balance for people with chronic instability (errors, 0.55[0.06–1.04]). Conclusions: Current evidence does not support or encourage the use of Kinesio taping applied to the ankle for improvements in functional performance, regardless the population.

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“…By doing so preventive measures can be targeted efficiently and effectively. For instance, male students with a positive outcome for the SEBT-ANT can be advised to participate in a neuromuscular training programme36 or to use ankle bracing during sport participation 37 38…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic balance and ankle injury odds: a prospective study in 196 Dutch physical education teacher education students

2019

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ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether dynamic balance, measured with the anterior component of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT-ANT), is a risk factor for ankle injuries in physical education teacher education (PETE) students.Design and settingA prospective monocentre study in first-year PETE students.ParticipantsA total of 196 subjects, of which 137 men (70%) and 59 women (30%).Outcome measuresThis study consisted of measures of the SEBT-ANT at baseline (September 2015) and an injury registration procedure during a follow-up period (September 2015–June 2016). The association between the SEBT-ANT score and subsequent ankle injury was analysed with generalised estimating equations analysis at the leg level.ResultsMen and women had an average SEBT-ANT score of, respectively, 65.1% and 67.7% of leg length. In 20 (15%) subjects, the first injured body site involved the ankle. Across all participants, a below average SEBT-ANT score was not associated with increased ankle injury odds (OR OR=2.43, 95% CI: 0.94 to 6.29, p=0.07). In men, a below average SEBT-ANT score indicated sevenfold increased odds for ankle injury (OR=7.06, 95% CI: 1.43 to 34.92, p=0.02). In women, this relationship was not significant (OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.19 to 2.71, p=0.62).ConclusionsBelow average normalised SEBT-ANT scores were associated with sevenfold likelihood for ankle injuries in men. In contrast, no relationship was found for the SEBT-ANT score and ankle injuries in woman. These results may provide directions for the implementation of screening tools, as part of an injury prevention programme, to identify male PETE students with an increased likelihood for ankle injuries.

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Ankle Bracing is Effective for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Acute Ankle Injuries in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Cited by 35 publications

References 27 publications

People with chronic ankle instability benefit from brace application in highly dynamic change of direction movements

People with chronic ankle instability benefit from brace application in highly dynamic change of direction movements

Kinesio taping does not improve ankle functional or performance in people with or without ankle injuries: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Dynamic balance and ankle injury odds: a prospective study in 196 Dutch physical education teacher education students

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