Ankle Stability and Sprains

Adequate ankle stability is an important factor for any athlete.  Stability following chronic ankle sprains becomes a challenge but are taping and bracing the way to go? Josh Jordan DPT, CSCS discusses this in his article on GiveandgoPT.wordpress.com.

This article focuses on basketball players, but can easily apply to other sports especially soccer.  Proprioception is the ability of the body and the brain to sense the position and movement of a joint. If proprioception is diminished the brain may perceive the ankle in a neutral position, when in fact it is slightly inverted (turned inward). You can see how this can lead to repetitive ankle sprains.  A key point mentioned in this article is the idea that proprioception is enhanced by the compression and feedback that a brace, or taping gives the ankle.  This feedback is then received and processed by the brain to produce an appropriate motor response.

Check out the “Does Ankle Taping or Bracing Really Help?”  for some good information and exercise ideas to help with this.