Abstract
The rehabilitative phase of ankle injury management often involves braces. Our aim was to ascertain the effect of both a brace on both ankle range of movement and the timing of peak loads in the gait cycle, to understand better the mechanisms by which such braces enhance ankle stability.
We recruited 24 adults who were in the rehabilitation stage following ankle injuries, and in whom there was an aspiration to return to sport.
Controls were 17 adults who regularly played sport, but had no recent history of injury.
Assessment of range of movement was carried out using the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer to measure inversion, eversion, flexion and extension of the foot, with the subject in training shoes, and wearing one of two common stirrup-type ankle braces. Assessment of peak force in three orthogonal axes (% body weight) was performed using the Kistler footplate. The subjects were observed in bare feet, trainers and stirrup braces.
Results showed that the ankle braces restricted inversion (mean reduction 9 degrees, SD 8 degrees) compared to training shoes alone in both the injured and non-injured sunjects, but the restriction in range of movement in inversion /eversion was not significantly different between the braced injured and un-injured ankles (t test p< 0.05).The ankle braces did not alter peak loads compared to training shoes alone (one way analysis of variance, p< 0.05);these findings were consistent in both groups. The time to reach peak load was not significantly different between the braced or un-braced ankles in either the injured or control groups.
We conclude that stirrup type braces reduce the range of inversion/eversion in the normal and injured ankle, reducing the movement by a similar amount in both of these groups, but they do not alter peak forces through the foot during walking.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Richard Buxton. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Bankton Cottage, 21 Bankton Park, Kingskettle, Cupar, Fife KY15 7PY, United Kingdom
