How does ankle taping prevent ankle sprains during athletic activity?

Ankle Taping for Sprain Prevention During Athletic Activity

Functional support with ankle taping is effective in preventing ankle sprains during athletic activity, particularly for those with a history of previous sprains, by providing stability and enhancing proprioception. 1

Mechanism of Action

• Ankle taping provides functional support that helps maintain joint stability during athletic movements, preventing excessive inversion or eversion that could lead to sprains 1
• Taping enhances proprioception (position sense awareness), which may be diminished by athletic footwear, helping athletes maintain better awareness of foot position during play 2
• Functional support from taping restricts extreme ranges of motion while still allowing functional movement necessary for athletic performance 1

Effectiveness of Taping

• Taping is most effective in preventing recurrent ankle sprains rather than first-time sprains, with evidence showing a relative risk reduction of 0.30 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.43) for recurrent sprains 1
• Numbers-needed-to-treat (NNT) analysis shows that taping is significantly more effective for athletes with previous ankle sprains (NNT of 26) compared to those without prior history (NNT of 143) 3
• Functional support through taping allows athletes to return to sports approximately 4.6 days sooner than immobilization approaches 4

Taping vs. Bracing

• Both taping and bracing are effective forms of functional support for preventing ankle sprains during athletic activity 1
• Semi-rigid braces are more cost-effective than taping (approximately 3 times less expensive) while providing similar protective benefits 3
• The choice between tape and brace should be based on patient preferences, as both are effective preventive measures 1

Proper Application and Use

• Ankle taping should be applied during athletic activity but not continuously for 24 hours to avoid muscle weakness 5
• Taping should be used in conjunction with exercise therapy for optimal prevention of recurrent sprains 1
• Proper taping technique is crucial to ensure adequate support without overly restricting functional movement 5

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Relying solely on taping without incorporating exercise therapy, which has shown significant preventive effects for recurrent ankle sprains (RR 0.62,95% CI 0.51 to 0.76) 1
• Using elastic bandages instead of proper athletic tape, as they provide insufficient support 5, 4
• Continuous 24-hour taping may lead to muscle weakness and should be avoided 5
• Assuming taping will prevent all first-time ankle sprains, as evidence shows it's most effective for those with previous injury history 1, 3

Limitations of Taping

• The protective effect of taping may diminish during prolonged activity as the tape loosens 6
• Some studies suggest that the protective effect of taping may be primarily psychological rather than mechanical in some cases 2
• Taping may interfere with normal movement patterns, though to a lesser extent than rigid bracing 2