Taping and Bracing:Which is the Better

Option?

The purpose of a tape job is usually one of two things.

One possible reason to tape an ankle is to prevent an ankle injury.

Taping

Since most injuries occur due to an inversion (turning in of the ankle) and plantarflexion, most ankle tape jobs are applied so that they limit the inversion motion.

Preventative tape jobs are useful in situations of ankle weakness or when the likelihood of suffering an ankle injury is high due to the practice or game conditions.

If the ankle is weak the athlete must also _____________________ the injured area

Examples:

Gas pedal Windshield wipers ABC’s Toe taps Toe raises Band exercises Stretches Band exercises

Preventative Taping

After an ankle sprain, the ligaments, muscles and tendons are weak and injured.

In order to resume practice and play safely and swiftly, ankle tape jobs are often applied to protect the injury.

Protective Taping

Again, since most injuries are due to an inversion and plantarflexion mechanism, these tape jobs often center around preventing ____________ & ________.

Protective Taping

Mechanism of injury must be determined by an athletic trainer or doctor prior to return to play so that the tape job can be modified to protect against the exact mechanism of injury

Taping may weaken the body’s natural protective mechanisms Ligaments Muscles Tendons Joint capsule

proprioception

Disadvantages of taping

Many believe that regular

use of a tape job will cause the secondary

supports to become

weaker and less effective, so that if the tape job fails or the athlete plays without

it, injury is more likely.

Taping tries to mimic what the ligaments are

supposed to do.

But what else should the athlete

be doing?

One of the main problems with ankle tape jobs is that learning to tape is difficult. In other words, one must complete many tape jobs to become efficient.

Another potential problem is that there is a great deal of variability between tape jobs applied by different people.

A veteran trainer once commented that there are as many different ways to tape the ankle as there are people taping.

Disadvantages of taping

An alternative to ankle taping is ankle bracing. Most sports medicine practitioners fall into one camp or the other with some advocating taping and others bracing. In reality, there are probably uses for both.

Bracing

Consistency – same feel every time

Adjustable – unlike tape, if it’s too tight or too loose the user can easily make adjustments

Self-reliance – unlike taping, you do not need anyone to put a brace on for you. You can use a brace even when a trainer is not available

Custom-made option – you can buy a brace that has been made just for you. This option usually requires a doctors visit and a prescription for the type of brace you need

Advantages of Bracing

Smelly-factor

bacteria skin irritation discomfort gross!

Over-the-counter option

everyone can walk into a drug store and buy a brace, but that doesn’t mean that they know which brace is right for them and their injury.

Easy access to a brace is good if you know how to shop for one, but can be a very bad thing if you get the wrong brace and end up doing more harm than good

Disadvantages

Weakens the support structures in the ankle, just like tape does. The injured area gets dependent on the tape; patient MUST be doing rehab to ensure the injured area gets stronger!

Con’s of Bracing, cont.

" The 20 benefits of ankle taping > ManageYourLifeNow.com." Manage Your Life Better with ManageYourLifeNow.com. N.p., 13 Jan. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. <http://www.manageyourlifenow.com/>.

"People who exercise on work days are happier, suffer less stress and are more productive." Mail Online. N.p., 16 Dec. 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/>.

"The FITT Principle of Training." Phil Davies' Sports Fitness Advisor - Get Fit for Sport & Life. Sports Fitness Advisor, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. <http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/fitt-principle.html>.

Bolton, Raphael. "Exercising Properly With Aerobic And Anaerobic Exercises." Article Alley. N.p., 1 Apr. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. <http://www.articlealley.com/>.

Bronson, Mary. Glencoe Health. Woodland Hills; TIME,2009.335.print