The Effect of Ankle Bracing on Athletic Performance Variables in Healthy Young Adult Athletes

Acute ankle sprains are common in sports and carry a significantly increased risk of recurrence after an initial injury. Bracing has been shown to reduce injury recurrence; however, athletes may decline this prophylactic measure due to fear of negative effect on athletic performance. Previous research examining the impact of bracing on performance has demonstrated conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bracing on choice reaction time and foot speed in healthy, young adults using computerized agility testing. Twenty-eight healthy athletes aged 18-25 years completed the study. Subjects performed testing for choice reaction time (CRT), foot speed-forward (FSF), and foot speed-backwards (FSB) using Quick Board technology. Testing was performed in 3 bracing conditions: non-braced (NB), braced dominant ankle (BD), and braced non-dominant ankle (BND). Separate repeated ANOVAs were used to compare the effect of bracing for each performance variable. No significant effect of bracing on CRT (p=0.95) or FSF (p=0.075) was observed; however, there was a significant effect on FSB (p=0.035). Post-hoc testing revealed foot speed in the backwards direction was significantly lower in the BND condition vs. the NB condition (p=0.029). While bracing does not significantly impact CRT or FSF, bracing the non-dominant ankle may limit performance in athletic tasks that require posterior movement. These results provide valuable insights for clinicians and athletes when weighing the benefits of prophylactic bracing against the potential negative impact on performance.