How Is Taping and Bracing Used In Sports?
Traditionally, when athletes injure their ankles, medical braces and/or athletic tape is used to support the weakened limbs. This concept is alive and well, all college programs and in almost all high school programs have athletic trainers who tape their athletes (football) before practice and competition. Post-surgical ACL reconstruction patients are often fitted with custom knee braces to support the new ligament while participating in sports with a higher propensity for knee injuries such as skiing. Does Ankle Taping Work? According to a new study, using braces and tape on healthy ankles can help prevent injuries from happening in the first place. Researchers at Vrije University in Amsterdam reviewed eight studies on ankle-sprain prevention. Among their findings: one study of more than 2,500 college basketball players showed that athletes who taped their ankles suffered less than half the number of sprains than those who did not tape. Another study, conducted for six years with some
