The effect of tape, braces and shoes on ankle range of motion

Sport injuries are unwanted adverse effects accompanying participation in s ports. In a wide variety of sports the most common location of injury is th e ankle, frequently resulting from a forced plantar flexed inversion of the foot exceeding the physiological range of motion (ROM). Historically the p urpose of external support systems is to prevent acute ankle injuries by re stricting abnormal ankle ROM. It is believed that a superior restrictive ef fect also implies a superior preventive effect. The purpose of this review was to examine the literature regarding the rest ricting effect of adhesive taping, prophylactic ankle stabilisers (PAS) and high-top shoes on ankle ROM. It has been found that tape restricts ankle e version and inversion ROM significantly following application. However, tap e loosens significantly following standardised exercise and sports activiti es. Studies regarding PAS reported that both semi-rigid and nonrigid stabil isers give a significant postapplication restriction of ankle inversion mot ion. The nonrigid stabilisers show loosening over time during exercise, whi le the semi-rigid stabilisers maintain their restrictive effect over the sa me time span. High-top shoes in comparison to low-top shoes are more effect ive in restricting mechanically imposed ankle inversion ROM. Low-top shoes, however, also limit mechanically imposed ankle inversion stress with the a nkle in the position in which ankle injury occurs most frequently. One must keep in mind, however, that a superior mechanical restriction of ankle ROM does not necessarily imply a superior preventive effect. Only well-control led randomised studies can show such an effect, and these studies have show n a reduction of ankle injury incidence for all 3 prophylactic measures rev iewed.