Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effectiveness of Prophylactic Ankle Stabilisers for Prevention of Ankle Injuries

  • Injury Clinic
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Ankle injuries are common at many levels of athletic participation. A relatively recent approach in injury intervention is the use of prophylactic ankle stabilisers (PAS). PAS are used with the intention of reducing the frequency and severity of ankle injuries in a cost-effective manner. To date, 4 studies have been completed to determine the clinical efficacy of PAS. Although all of the studies have methodological limitations, a general consensus of agreement exists among the findings: PAS are effective in reducing the incidence of acute ankle sprains. However, the effect of PAS on ankle sprain severity remains unclear, as varying results have been reported. PAS do not increase the risk of knee injuries. The use of PAS for ankle injury reduction appears to be justified although further research is required.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lassiter T, Malone T, Garrick J. Injury to the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Orthop Clin N Am 1989; 20: 629–40

    Google Scholar 

  2. Miller E, Hergenroeder A. Ankle bracing. Pediatr Clin N Am 1990; 37: 1175–85

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Attarian D, McCrackin H, DeVito D, et al. Biomechanical characteristics of human ankle ligaments. Foot Ankle 1985; 6: 54–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Greene T, Roland C. A comparative isokinetic evaluation of a functional ankle orthosis on talocalcaneal function. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1989; 11: 245–52

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gross M, Lapp A, David J. Comparison of Swede-O-Universal Ankle Support and Aircast SportStirrup orthoses and ankle tape in restricting eversion-inversion before and after exercise. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991; 13: 11–9

    Google Scholar 

  6. Blythe D, Mueller F. An epidemiological study of high school football injuries in North Carolina, 1968–1974 final report. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1974: 67

    Google Scholar 

  7. Garrick J. The frequency of injury, mechanism of injury, & epidemiology of ankle sprains. Am J Sports Med 1977; 5: 241–2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jackson D, Ashley R, Powell J. Ankle sprains in young athletes. Clin Orthop Rel Research 1974; 101: 201–15

    Google Scholar 

  9. Quigley T, Cox J, Murphy J. Protective wrapping for the ankle. JAMA 1946; 132: 924

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Garrick J, Requa R. Role of external support in the prevention of ankle sprains. Med Sci Sport 1973; 5: 200–3

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fumich R, Ellison A, Guerin G, et al. The measured effect of taping on combined foot and ankle motion before and after exercise. Am J Sports Med 1981; 9: 165–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Greene T, Hillman S. Comparison of support provided by a semirigid orthosis and adhesive ankle taping before, during, and after exercise. Am J Sports Med 1990; 18: 498–506

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Laughman R, Carr T, Chao E, et al. Three-dimensional kinematics of the taped ankle before and after exercise. Am J Sports Med 1980; 8: 425–31

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Myburgh K, Vaughan C, Isaacs S. The effects of ankle guards and taping on joint motion before, during, and after a squash match. Am J Sports Med 1984; 12: 441–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rarick L, Bigley G, Karst R, et al. The measurable support of the ankle joint by conventional methods of taping. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1962; 44A: 1183–90

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rovere G, Clarke T, Yates C, et al. Retrospective comparison of taping and ankle stabilizers in preventing ankle injuries. Am J Sports Med 1988; 16: 228–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Burks R, Bean B, Marcus R. Analysis of athletic performance with prophylactic ankle devices. Am J Sports Med 1991; 19: 104–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Stover R. Air Stirrup management of ankle injuries in the athlete. Am J Sports Med 1980; 8: 360–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Troop H, Asking C, Gillquist J. Prevention of ankle sprains. Am J Sports Med 1985; 13: 259–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sitler M, Ryan J, Wheeler B, et al. The efficacy of a semirigid ankle stabilizer to reduce acute ankle injuries in basketball. Am J Sports Med 1994; 22: 454–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Surve I, Schwellnum M, Noakes T, et al. A fivefold reduction in the incidence of recurrent ankle sprains in soccer players using the sport-stirrup orthosis. Am J Sports Med 1994; 8: 601–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Looney M, McAllister B. Is critical analysis of sports medicine research necessary? J Athl Train 1989; 24: 333–6

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bunch R, Bednarski K, Holland D, et al. Ankle joint support: a comparison of reusable lace-on braces with taping and wrapping. Physician Sports Med 1985; 13: 59–62

    Google Scholar 

  24. Greene T, Hillman S. Comparison of support provided by a semirigid orthosis and adhesive ankle tape before, during and after exercise. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1990; 18: 498–505

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Michael R. Sitler

  2. Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

    Mary Beth Horodyski

Authors
  1. Michael R. Sitler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary Beth Horodyski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sitler, M.R., Horodyski, M.B. Effectiveness of Prophylactic Ankle Stabilisers for Prevention of Ankle Injuries. Sports Med. 20, 53–57 (1995). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199520010-00005

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199520010-00005

Keywords

Search

Navigation