Effectiveness of prophylactic ankle stabilisers for prevention of ankle injuries.

Ankle injuries are common at many levels of athletic participation. A relatively recent approach in injury intervention is the use of prophylactic ankle stabilisers (PAS). PAS are used with the intention of reducing the frequency and severity of ankle injuries in a cost-effective manner. To date, 4 studies have been completed to determine the clinical efficacy of PAS. Although all of the studies have methodological limitations, a general consensus of agreement exists among the findings: PAS are effective in reducing the incidence of acute ankle sprains. However, the effect of PAS on ankle sprain severity remains unclear, as varying results have been reported. PAS do not increase the risk of knee injuries. The use of PAS for ankle injury reduction appears to be justified although further research is required.