[Long-term effects of ankle joint orthoses on sports specific capability in handball]

We documented the effect on sports specific capabilities of long lasting wear of ankle braces in 14 handball players. For a period of 4 months half of the team performed all athletic activities with an ankle brace. The other players served as control performing the same athletic activities without wearing a brace. For documentation of the coordinative capabilities a special jump-test with a COMET-system was used. This test was performed after a standardised warm-up at the beginning and at the end of the 4 months observation period with and without an ankle brace. The results showed that wearing the used ankle brace for a period of 4 months did not lead to a negative effect on jumping capabilities. The brace group showed even an increased ability in the used test. This could be documented in short as well as long term effects.

Long wear of ankle braces do not lead to negative side-effects in sports specific capabilities that are represented by the performed jump-test.