Ankle Taping vs. Ankle Braces

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) studied the injury trends in high school sports. The highest occurrence of injuries were to the ankle, over 30% in basketball, soccer, and volleyball. What measures can you take to protect the ankle? In addition to preventative strengthening exercises, the ankle can be protected with either a functional brace or athletic tape to add additional support. There is a significant debate over whether ankle taping or bracing is more effective. Both have advantages and drawbacks.

Taping is a common practice in almost all colleges today, and in high school when necessary. Many studies have been done to show the effectiveness of ankle taping. In the studies where ankle taping was deemed to enhance ankle protection, the tape was applied in a pattern to combat a specific motion. If you decided to use ankle taping for support, you must also take into consideration the experience and knowledge of the person applying the tape and the quality of the tape itself. No matter how good the tape job is, athletic tape will begin to lose support as the ankle is moved throughout a practice or competition. Perspiration can also decrease the effectiveness of the tape job, which is why it is important to start with a strong tape job.

In general people tend to believe that because of the more rigid materials that ankle braces are made out of, that they are therefore more effective than tape. However they can lose support with activity just like ankle taping, and the strength of good athletic tape should not be underestimated. Ankle braces have been found to be not as effective as freshly applied tape. Nevertheless, it is more realistic to tighten or readjust a brace than re-tape an ankle during a practice or game.

Cost can also be an important factor to take into account when deciding between the two. You will need to purchase athletic tape plus the cost of pre-wrap, adhesive spray, heel and lace pads, and the need for a certified athletic trainer to apply the tape job. An ankle brace can cost anywhere from $20 to $60. Overall, it is really a matter of preference. Braces can be self applied and readjusted, and are most cost effective. Taping can be applied in specific patterns to prevent movement in certain directions, and is easily changed for personal comfort. Some type of support is definitely warranted; taping and bracing both have their positives and negatives.