Effect of 3 Different Ankle Braces on Functional Performance and Ankle Range of Motion

The Seattle Ankle Orthosis (SAO) is a prophylactic ankle brace designed to restrict ankle motion, with straps extending from a cuff around the distal leg to the lateral aspect of the shoe midsole. To date, no laboratory or clinical research about the SAO has been performed. Our purpose was to assess range of motion (ROM) and functional performance measures in 4 brace conditions: SAO, lace-up brace, semirigid brace, and no brace. Twenty-four healthy, young adults participated in this crossover study. Ankle ROM in all 4 directions was signifi cantly restricted by all braces, compared with no brace; however, the SAO restricted inversion ROM signifi cantly more than the other 2 braces. Vertical jump height was signifi cantly reduced in all brace conditions, compared with no brace. No diff erences in agility or static balance measures between conditions were noted. The SAO had comparable eff ects on ROM and functional performance to lace-up and semirigid braces. Prophylactic ankle bracing has been reported to reduce ankle injury.1-3 Athletic trainers recommend that athletes use ankle braces more and ankle taping less because of the ease of application, effectiveness, and cost.4 Olmsted at al4 performed a cost– benefi t analysis and reported that over a course of a season, ankle taping was approximately 3 times more expensive than ankle braces and that braces may be superior in injury prevention. However, athletes are more concerned with performance than cost and thus may be less likely to wear an ankle brace if the device results in deleterious consequences in performance. Typically, there are 2 different classifi cations of ankle braces that have been researched: semirigid and lace up. These ankle braces fi t into athletes’ shoes and are designed to restrict range of motion (ROM). Excessive inversion is the typical mechanism of injury for a lateral ankle sprain; thus, braces are intended to primarily restrict this motion. In a landmark metaanalysis conducted in 2000, Cordova et al5 evaluated the published literature on the effectiveness of various ankle supports on ankle joint ROM. Overall, they found that semirigid ankle braces signifi cantly reduced inversion ROM, compared with lace-up braces. Ubell et al6 evaluated semirigid and lace-up braces, compared with an unbraced condition, on forced inversion following a jump landing. Overall, they found that both types of braces prevented inversion, compared with the unbraced condition; however, only the semirigid brace signifi cantly reduced inversion, compared with no brace.6 Eversion ROM was also more restricted in semirigid braces, compared with lace-up braces.5 Semirigid braces are not designed to restrict plantar fl exion or dorsifl exion; however, lace-up braces were found to signifi cantly restrict both motions.5 Overall, Cordova et al5 concluded that semirigid braces provide the greatest mechanical support to prevent ankle sprains; however, functional performance was not evaluated. In a follow-up meta-analysis, Cordova et al7 evaluated the same kinds of ankle braces on traditional Mr Parsley is from Nettleton High School, Jonesboro, Arkansas; Dr Chinn is from the Department of Athletic Training, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio; Dr Lee is from the Department of Physical Education, Yonsei University, Yonsei, Korea; Dr Ingersoll is from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, Michigan; and Dr Hertel is from the Joe H. Gieck Professor of Sports Medicine Kinesiology Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Received: May 27, 2011 Accepted: August 23, 2012 Posted Online: February 13, 2013 The authors have no fi nancial or proprietary interest in the materials presented