Bracing and rehabilitation--what's new.
Based on the recent evidence, ankle bracing and taping do appear to have positive effects on ankle support. For example, both bracing and taping restrict inversion range of motion, with tape and stirrup-style braces providing the best support. Although exercise reduces this restriction, the range remains consistent with levels considered to be within the normal range. Ankle supports also appear to improve the strength of the muscular response to perturbation, potentially providing a stronger muscular contraction. In contrast, ankle supports fail to improve the neuromuscular response time to unexpected perturbations. Thus, it appears that the stronger response may occur too slowly to protect the joint. This slowness of the neuromuscular response, however, may be offset by the support's ability to slow the inversion motion. The slowing of inversion appears to allow the neuromuscular system to respond at or before the point of ligament damage. Finally, ankle supports appear to improve balance only in individuals with previously injured ankles. This suggests that supports may have a selective effect in protecting injured but not uninjured individuals. Despite these positive effects, some cautions should be emphasized. First, most of the studies cited have been performed in the laboratory setting with joint velocities and loads much below what are encountered in the athletic and daily activities. Whether tape and braces can maintain their effectiveness under the more extreme conditions of functional activities remains unclear. Additionally, some evidence suggests that ankle supports may transfer loads to other joints putting them at risk for injury. Thus, further study is needed to determine the risk-to-benefit ratio of ankle supports. Finally, much of the research presented has been done only on uninjured ankles. Based on the current evidence, it seems possible that the effectiveness of ankle supports may differ depending on the population, and it seems clinically important to know whether we can expect the same results for injured and uninjured ankles. Proper and early rehabilitation is important in preventing residual ankle symptoms. Reports indicate that up to 73% of people who sustain a lateral ankle sprain have recurrent sprains, but it is unknown how many of these participants partake in rehabilitation. Proper immobilization and acute care of the injured ankle is imperative. An immobilization boot or strapping that can be removed during early non-weight bearing exercises seems to be most effective. Strength and balance training of the uninjured contralateral limb can be used to assist reaching full recovery in a shorter period of time. Functional exercises can also be performed earlier in the rehabilitation process by reducing the gravitational forces so patients can perform in a pain-free range and still receive the benefits of early activity. Evidence shows that daily ankle disk training assists in preventing ankle sprains, and is a relatively inexpensive and easy alternative to traditional rehabilitation protocols.