What’s the Best Way to Prevent Injuries? We Examine Ankle Brace vs Tape

Ankle injuries are among the most common types of injury for active people – whether you run, play basketball, hit the courts for a game of tennis or simply go about your normal everyday activities. If you’re considering ankle support, you may be thinking about whether to use an ankle brace vs athletic tape to help reduce the risk of injuries.

In this article, we’ll explore when ankle support is needed, the pros and cons of ankle braces, and how braces compare to ankle taping.

Are you active and concerned about preventing and managing injuries? At The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we provide braces that can be used to protect, immobilize and rehabilitate sports-related injuries so you can continue doing the things you love. We invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment.

When Should You Use Ankle Support?

Not everyone who is active needs to use ankle support. If you have healthy, stable ankles and no previous history of injuries, regular strengthening and balance exercises may be all you need to help prevent injuries. 

Situations when ankle support is recommended include:

• After a previous ankle sprain 
• When returning to sports after an injury 
• If you have a history of repeated ankle injuries or instability
• When participating in activities that place high demands on the ankle joint, such as basketball, volleyball, soccer or trail running

 Ankle support is especially helpful for preventing re-injury. 

It’s important to keep in mind that while ankle support can be beneficial in these situations, it should not replace strength training and balance exercises for building and maintaining ankle strength and mobility, nor should it take the place of proper rehabilitation for injuries. 

There are two main types of ankle support, ankle braces and athletic tape, each with their own pros and cons, which we’ll discuss further below.

What Are the Benefits of Wearing an Ankle Brace?

An ankle brace is a supportive device that provides external support to your ankle by limiting movements that can lead to sprains. It helps protect the area from injury or re-injury. 

Benefits of wearing an ankle brace:

• Reduced risk of ankle sprains, especially for those with previous injuries 
• Provides consistent support and stability during sports and other activities
• Helps your brain sense your ankle position (proprioception), which improves coordination
• Can be used for practices, games or workouts and removed easily afterward
• Can be adapted for different sports, activity levels and comfort
• Requires no special training to put on or use

What Are the Cons of Wearing an Ankle Brace?

While ankle braces can be beneficial under the right circumstances, there are a few drawbacks to consider.

For example, ankle braces:

• Can be uncomfortable or bulky
• May restrict natural ankle motion
• Reduce risk of injury, but don’t eliminate it
• Create discomfort or reduced effectiveness if poorly fitted
• May cause some users to rely on the brace instead of performing proper strength or rehab exercises, which can limit long-term improvement

When Should You Use an Ankle Brace Vs Ankle Tape?

Athletic tape is an alternative ankle support method with its own pros and cons. Both ankle braces and athletic tape can be beneficial, but they serve different purposes.

While tape provides a customized fit for each use, it requires skill to apply properly and frequent reapplication. Other considerations include higher long-term costs due to the need for repeated use and a decrease in support as the tape stretches or loosens.

You may want to use ankle tape:

• When you need a customized fit to provide targeted support
• For early recovery when you need injury support as you return to activity
• For short-term needs like a single game when reapplication isn’t necessary
• When playing sports in which braces might be too awkward or bulky

Consider using an ankle brace:

• For preventing re-injury or recurrent sprains
• If you need consistent, long-term support to manage chronic ankle instability
• When you need the convenience of support that’s easy to put on and take off
• When playing sports that put lots of stress on the ankle joint [Link to: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7745493/ ], such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis or trail running 

Though both braces and tape can be effective initially, braces offer better long-term support. The best option for you depends on your activity level, injury history and personal comfort.  

It’s best to complement the ankle support option you choose with strength training and balance exercises to improve stability and build stronger ankles.

The Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic Offers Braces to Help Prevent and Rehabilitate Sports-Related Injuries

While no single method can guarantee you won’t sustain an injury, reliable ankle support can play an important role in reducing risk, especially for people with a history of ankle injuries. 

At the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we offer a wide range of braces and other Durable Medical Equipment (DME) to help prevent and rehabilitate injuries so you can keep doing the things you love.

We’ve been providing the highest quality orthopedic care and diagnostic services to patients from the Raleigh and Triangle area for decades. We invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment.