Impact of Ankle Bracing on Skill Performance in Recreational Soccer Players

Lower Physical Fitness Is Associated with Injuries in Iranian National Futsal Teams: A Prospective Study

Background: Several studies have investigated risk factors for injury in different sports. However, little scientific information is available in relation to futsal injuries. Objectives: This study prospectively analyzed the influence of physical fitness parameters on the occurrence of futsal injuries in Iranian national teams. Methods: Prior to the season, all 55 players of 3 Iranian national futsal teams took part in a series of tests for physical fitness parameters such as cardio-respiratory fitness, muscle strength, body composition, flexibility, agility, and speed. Team physicians recorded all injuries, medical attention, and time loss due to the injury throughout the match and training sessions. Results: During 18 months, 54 futsal injuries were sustained by 32 players. Injured players had poorer performance at baseline in agility, speed, and vertical jump than players who did not incur an injury during the season. Lower maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) values were associated with a higher injury risk. No differences between injured and uninjured players were observed in age, anthropometric data, flexibility, and lower extremity strength. Conclusions: Some physical fitness parameters were associated with the risk of injuries in futsal. Therefore, improving physical fitness might help to reduce the number of futsal injuries.

Return to Play After a Lateral Ligament Ankle Sprain

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to describe the current evidence on the most common sports-related ankle injuries. Joint anatomy, epidemiology, clinical findings, diagnostic approach, and treatment are presented with a specific focus on the available evidence towards return to play.

Recent Findings

Recent findings show that ankle sprain is the most common injury in the world of sports. Bony fractures, cartilage defects, and syndesmotic lesions are frequently seen in association with the more severe type of ankle sprains.

Summary

In summary, the majority of the athletes’ ankle sprains are managed conservatively with excellent outcomes and full return to their pre-injury level of play. However, it is essential to differentiate the single ligament sprain from a more complex injury to the ankle joint. The evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation programmes are associated with a better prognosis and a faster time to return to sport participation.

The Comparative Effects of Ankle Bracing on Functional Performance

Ankle sprains represent a common musculoskeletal injury that clinicians are tasked with preventing and treating. Because of the prevalence of this injury, ankle braces have been designed to prophylactically protect the joint and reduce the incidence of repetitive sprains. Although an abundance of literature exists focusing on the efficacy of braces in preventing ankle sprains in young, healthy, and physically active populations, there is a scarcity of evidence specific to the impact of these apparatuses on functional performance; therefore, the purpose of this critically appraised topic (CAT) is to investigate the effects of ankle braces on functional performance measures in such individuals. The outcomes of this CAT will assist sport rehabilitation specialists with informed clinical decision making in managing young, healthy, and physically active populations using ankle braces. Do ankle braces hinder functional performance measures when compared with an unbraced condition in a young, healthy, and physically active population? A minimum of level II evidence research studies were surveyed for this CAT. For this CAT, 1 randomized controlled trial and 3 prospective cohort studies were selected. One study found a statistically significant main effect of increased agility run times while participants wore ankle braces. Another study demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in vertical jump height and ankle range of motion while wearing braces. No other statistically significant findings were reported among studies comparing unbraced with braced conditions. Current data indicate that young, healthy, and physically active individuals may experience varied performance effects when executing specific functional performance tasks while wearing ankle braces. In general, bracing does not appear to significantly impair performance on most functional tasks; however, decrements were noted to increases in agility run time and decreases in vertical jump height. Subsequent analysis indicated that a brace may result in decreased ankle plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, eversion, and inversion range of motion, which may underpin noted performance deficits.