Often people wonder if its better to tape or brace an ankle that has been sprained or perhaps one that you don't want to get sprained. I've heard any times that its cheaper to tape or to brace or maybe it weakens your ankles if you don't actually need it. So many misconceptions can lead people astray and likely cause them more harm if not doing the best things for their situation. Before we dive in to far, lets make one thing clear, if you have injured your ankle there are many steps that need to be gone through before you can just tape it up or brace it, and even if you are managing an ankle injury and playing through it, tape or brace alone will not make you better, rehabilitation is necesary to not only heal but to reduce the change of re-injury.
What is "Ankle Taping"??
Ankle taping is a technique commonly used in sports and rehabilitation settings to provide support and stability to the ankle joint. It involves applying strips of athletic tape around the ankle in a specific pattern to limit excessive movement, prevent injury, or support an injured ankle during recovery. The taping technique typically involves wrapping the tape in a figure-eight or stirrup pattern around the ankle and foot, which helps to reinforce the ligaments and provide additional support. Ankle taping can be used both preventatively, to reduce the risk of ankle injuries during physical activity, and therapeutically, to support an injured ankle during the healing process. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, and sports medicine professionals often employ ankle taping as part of an overall injury prevention or rehabilitation program. Proper technique and application are essential to ensure effectiveness and minimize the risk of complications. Stay tuned with us, there are many more topics like this coming in the future.
What is "Ankle Bracing"??
Ankle bracing involves the use of a supportive device or brace worn around the ankle joint to provide stability and reduce the risk of injury during physical activity. These braces are designed to limit excessive movement of the ankle, and provide support to weakened or injured ligaments. Ankle braces come in various forms, including lace-up braces, stirrup braces, sleeve-style braces, and rigid braces. Lace-up braces typically feature a lace-up design similar to a shoe, providing compression and support around the ankle. Stirrup braces consist of rigid or semi-rigid struts on either side of the ankle, offering more stability. Rigid braces are made of hard plastic or other stiff materials and offer maximum support and protection. Athletes, individuals with a history of ankle injuries, and those participating in high-impact sports commonly use ankle braces to reduce the risk of sprains and other ankle injuries. Additionally, ankle braces may be recommended by healthcare professionals as part of a rehabilitation program for ankle injuries. Again, more on this topic coming down the pipe!
As you can tell, both seem to do the same thing, but certainly in a different way. below you will find differentiating pros and cons of each.
Pros of Ankle Taping..
Lower upfront cost if not doing a large amount of taping
Can control your stability more specifically
Typically a "tighter fit" than bracing
Can do many different techniques, rather than having to buy multiple braces
Pros of Ankle Bracing..
Easier to for athlete to put on an take off themselves
Reusable, unlike tape
Multiple sizes and types of braces to try and fit needs
Actually cheaper over the course of a season if you are doing a large amount to taping
Cons of Ankle Taping..
Not reusable
Can become expensive, depending on team size and how often you are taping
Proper technique is necessary to avoid blisters or ensure stability is proper
Need to always ensure you have enough tape/supplies on you and are prepared to tape when necessary
Cons of Ankle Bracing..
Larger upfront cost, and maybe not worth it based on how long someone might wear the brace
In many cases you can't control the stability as well as tape
Youth athletes can outgrow or wear them out, and will need to incur the cost again, it's not buy once and good forever
May be challenging the get the right size and they dont always fit well in shoes depending on sport.
A couple things to add, and I plan to spend a lot more time on this topic in the future, but no taping or bracing an ankle does not weaken your ankles, there is no evidence of this. Also, for a football team who gets taped everyday, its actually cheaper in the long run to buy everyone braces at the start of the season than tape them all year. lastly, there is some evidence that taping or bracing can help increase proprioception or joint position sense, but there is nothing statistically significant to prove this. I look forward to expanding on all this in the future. leave us a comment or stop over to the forum to start to conversation.
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