TAPING AN ANKLE VS WEARING AN ANKLE BRACE

Have you noticed that after you’ve sprained an ankle, it’s so easy to do it again? 

After an injury, regardless of how minor or severe, the ankle is very vulnerable to re-injury for many months. Ligaments, the structures that hold bones together, take a long time to fully heal.

The best way to avoid further injury and still be able to do the activities you want to do is to wear some support on the ankle – either tape the ankle or wear a brace. Both of these options take some getting used to, but are effective at reducing the risk of additional injury.

The purpose of wearing tape or an ankle brace is to restrict the extremes of the range of motion and give support to ligaments and/or tendons.

Here is a list of pros and cons of ankle taping or wearing a brace, to help you decide which one you want to do.

ANKLE TAPE

PROS

  • More effective (at least at first) because it’s closer fitting
  • Not bulky
  • Can be performed differently and with different types of tape to address an individual’s particular needs
    • Tighter, looser, heavier, lighter
    • Use directional pull to support specific structures
    • Can combine techniques to address more than one problem
  • High level of athlete compliance

CONS

  • Can loosen up and therefore become less effective over time, depending on what type of tape you use
  • Repeat expense
  • You need to have someone who knows what they are doing tape it for you, if you’re going to get the benefit out of it
  • Access to materials

ANKLE BRACE

PROS

  • Effective
  • Easy to put on
  • Easy to carry around
  • Doesn’t loosen up over time
  • One time expense

CONS

  • Bulky
  • Trouble fitting in tight cleats
  • Not customizable
    • Can be too tight
    • Can be too loose
    • Cannot be altered to support a specific structure
    • Only addresses a few specific problems
  • Can be difficult to get the right size
  • Not sure what kind to get
  • Easy to leave somewhere (Mom! Where’s my brace?!!)
  • Athlete doesn’t like it, so chooses not to wear it

I know as a parent, decisions come down to what is the easiest but still effective option. In this case that would be to get a brace. However, knowing athletes and recurrent ankle sprains like I do, I can tell you the most important thing about this decision is that the athlete actually wears it! Athletes will choose tape over a brace any day, because it is much more comfortable and they don’t feel as restricted by it. The athlete’s competitive circumstance should also play a role in the decision. Anyone who spends a lot of time practicing and competing should wear some support for about a year after the injury. 

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