Protection and performance effects of ankle bracing.

We investigated the protection afforded to ankle ligaments by ankle supports and the extent to which these were associated with a diminution of motor performance. Eleven volunteers were subjected to a 10 degrees tilt in four directions (inversion, eversion, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion) on a rocking platform. Three-dimensional videography was used to record complex ankle kinematics. The prophylactic ankle supports used were a semi-rigid brace, a lace-up cloth brace, and taping. The ankle supports provided similar initial protection against acute ligamentous inversion sprains. The semi-rigid ankle brace produced a smaller restriction of plantar flexion-dorsiflexion movement than either the lace-up cloth brace or taping.