The prevention of ankle sprains in sports - A systematic review of the literature

To assess the published evidence on the effectiveness of various approaches to the prevention of ankle sprains in athletes, we used textbooks, journal s, and experts in the field of sports medicine to identify citations. We id entified 113 studies reporting the risk of ankle sprains in sports, methods to provide support, the effect of these interventions on performance, and comparison of prevention efforts. The most common risk factor for ankle spr ain in sports is history of a previous sprain. Ten citations of studies inv olving athletes in basketball, football, soccer, or volleyball compared alt ernative methods of prevention. Methods tested included wrapping the ankle with tape or cloth, orthoses, high-top shoes, or some combination of these methods. Most studies indicate that appropriately applied braces, tape, or orthoses do not adversely affect performance. Based on our review, we recom mend that athletes with a sprained ankle complete supervised rehabilitation before returning to practice or competition, and those athletes suffering a moderate or severe sprain should wear an appropriate orthosis for at leas t 6 months. Both coaches and players must assume responsibility for prevent ion of injuries in sports. Methodologic limitations of published studies su ggested several areas for future research.