Vertical leg stiffness following ankle taping and bracing

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Ankle injuries are common in physically active individuals.
• Prophylactic ankle stabilizers (taping and bracing) are widely used to prevent injuries.
• The effect of these stabilizers on dynamic lower limb mechanics, like leg stiffness during hopping, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of prophylactic ankle taping and semi-rigid ankle bracing on vertical leg stiffness during hopping.
• To compare the effects of ankle tape, semi-rigid brace, and no stabilizer (control) conditions.

Main Methods:

• Twenty healthy, physically active participants were tested under three conditions: ankle tape, semi-rigid brace, and control.
• Participants underwent an exercise bout after stabilizer application before performing hopping trials.
• Vertical ground reaction forces were measured during hopping to calculate vertical leg stiffness.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in vertical leg stiffness were observed between the ankle taping, semi-rigid bracing, and control conditions.
• The findings suggest that prophylactic ankle stabilizers did not substantially change vertical leg stiffness during hopping in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• Prophylactic ankle taping and semi-rigid bracing did not appear to influence vertical leg stiffness during hopping in healthy, active individuals.
• Potential reasons for the lack of significant findings include stabilizer loosening due to exercise, compensatory movements in proximal joints, or a more subtle effect of stabilizers on shock absorption during hopping compared to drop landings.