Literature Review:

Incidence of ankle injury:

Injuries to the ankle are extremely common in athletes and often occur in a wide variety of sports (Kinzey et al., 1997). A systematic review of the literature by Fong, et al. (2007) detailing incidences of ankle injuries found that across a variety of 70 sports, the ankle was the most commonly injured site in the human body, (24 sports, 34.3%). Of those injuries to the ankle, Fong, et al. (2007) also reported that sprains were the most prevalent type of injury counting for 76.7% of all ankle injuries.
According to Hertel, (2000), Kinzay, et al. (1997), Matsusuka, et al. (2001) and Woods, et al. (2003) lateral ankle sprains are widely reported to be amongst the most common injuries to athletes across an extensive range of sports.
Callaghan (1997) describes acute lateral ankle sprain as the most common type of sports related ligamentous injury supported by a study by Verhagen, et al. (2001) who goes on to report that 85% of all ankle injuries are caused through inversed plantar flexion movement beyond the normal physiological range of movement (ROM).
Thacker, et. al. (1999) describes the incidences of when ankle injuries are likely to occur and states that injuries frequently occur when an athlete is either jumping or landing, especially in sports such as football, basketball, American football and Volleyball. A supporting study by Hume and Gerrard, (1998) also found that in rugby union incidences of ankle injury occurred when players were jumping, landing or making sharp changes in direction. Furthermore, Woods, et al. (2003) in a Football Association injury analysis report concluded that 77% of non-contact injuries in football were associated with landing, twisting and turning movements.

Prevention of ankle injuries:

The principle method of ankle injury prevention in recent years has been taping as described by Robbins, et al. (1995) and supported by Mohammadi , F. (2007) who states that the prevention of ankle injuries through strapping and other external supports has been widely researched. Ricard, et al. (2000) suggests that the application of taping and bracing to an injured ankle will act as a preventative measure by decreasing the range of movement in the joint, and therefore preventing further injury through extreme inversion. Ricard et al. (2000) goes on to suggest that taping is still found to be common standard practice among sports medicine practitioners. Halsneath, et al. (2003) also found in concordance with Ricard, et al. (2000) that taping is still considered to be a popular choice amongst athletes, athletic trainers and sports physiotherapists. Callaghan (1997) also reports that sportspersons often consider ankle supports to be essential to their individual performance.
In a study by Thacker et al. (1999) it was recommended that athletes with an ankle sprain should be treated with at least some foot orthotic whether is be tape or a fixed brace. Thacker et al. (1999) also stated that the prevention of ankle injuries is occasionally beyond the athlete’s control but elements such as in season and pre-season conditioning along with training that focus’ on flexibility and agility will significantly increase prevention potential. In conjunction with flexibility and agility training it is thought that proprioceptive training is a crucial aspect of ankle injury prevention (Mohammadi, 2007)

The problems and shortcomings of using tape to support the ankle are that tape is not reusable and tends to become expensive over time (Thacker et al., 1999).

Taping and Bracing:

Callaghan (1997) also suggested that based on previous literature by Rovere et al. (1988) that when compared with taping a non rigid lace up brace halved the risk of ankle sprains in American football.

The prevention of ankle injuries through taping and bracing is thought by Ricard et al. (2000) to provide protection for the joint and to disallow inversion movements