The Effects Of Ankle Bracing On Functional Performance

• Published in: Journal of athletic training 2001-01, Vol.36 (2), p.S-93
• Main Authors: Saffran, C R, Kaminski, T W, Hatzel, B M, Horodyski, M B, Dodd, S L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1062-6050

The ankle joint is one of the most commonly injured joints in sports and accounts for approxiately 18% to 40% of all sport-related injuries. Prophylactic ankle braces have been shown to be effective in restricting inversion and eversion of the ankle joint, thus reducing the incidence of ankle sprains in athletics. The purpose of this study was to determine if functional performance was affected by the use of the Bledsoe Ultimate Ankle [BUA] brace (Bledsoe Brace Systems, Grand Prairie, TX) as compared to the Swede-O Ankle Lok registered [SAL] brace (Swede-O Inc., North Branch, MN) and a no-brace (NB) condition. Fourteen female students (age = 21.6 plus or minus 1.3 yr., ht. = 165.6 plus or minus 6.4 cm, wt.= 58.5 plus or minus 5.5 kg) volunteered to participate. Subjects were randomly assigned into each of the three bracing conditions with testing occurring over three consecutive days. Functional performance was assessed using a single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ), forty-yard dash (FYD), and SEMO agility test (SEMO). SLVJ scores were established using a Vertec registered (Sports Imports, Columbus, OH) measuring device. The FYD and SEMO trials were timed using a Brower (Brower Timing Systems, Salt Lake City, UT) infrared timing device. Three trials of each performance test were conducted. The best SLVJ scores were compared, while the average of the three SEMO and FYD trials was used for data analysis. Separate repeated measure ANOVAs were performed to determine if differences in functional performance (SLVJ, FYD, SEMO) existed between the bracing conditions. The FYD ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference in FYD time between the 3 brace conditions [F(2,26)=5.08, p = .014]. The FYD times established while wearing the BUA were significantly slower (6.62 sec.) than under both the NB (6.43 sec.) and SAL (6.45 sec.) brace conditions. There were no significant differences in SLVJ or SEMO performance among the three bracing conditions. These findings suggest that FYD performance is decreased when wearing the BUA, while the SAL brace does not appear to affect FYD times when both are compared to a NB condition. SLVJ and SEMO performance is not affected by the application of the selected prophylactic braces used in this study. It is important for clinicians and athletes to understand that although some forms of prophylactic ankle braces are rigid in nature, the effect they have on functional performance varies.