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Effects of ankle support on lower-extremity functional performance: a meta-analysis
Mitchell L Cordova1, Brady D Scott, Christopher D Ingersoll
1Athletic Training Department, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809-9989, USA. m-cordova@indstate.edu
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|April 6, 2005
Summary
External ankle support may slightly impair athletic performance, particularly sprint speed with lace-up braces. However, the injury prevention benefits likely outweigh these small performance decrements for athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Clinicians hypothesize external ankle support hinders functional performance.
- Previous study outcomes on ankle support's impact on performance are inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of external ankle support on lower-extremity functional performance.
Main Methods:
- A random-effects meta-analysis of 93 effects from 17 randomized controlled trials.
- Examined adhesive tape, lace-up, and semirigid ankle supports.
- Assessed standardized effect sizes for sprint, agility, and vertical jump performance.
Main Results:
- Lace-up braces showed the most significant negative effect on sprint speed (effect size -0.22).
- Most external ankle supports had minor negative effects on performance.
- Confidence intervals suggested potential for performance impairment.
Conclusions:
- Further research is required to clarify the effects of external ankle support on performance.
- The injury prevention benefits of ankle support are considered to outweigh potential minor performance impairments.