The Impact Of Ankle Brace Use Utilization Versus Functional Taping On Adolescent Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an ankle brace, functional taping, and no prophylactic method on maximum inversion angle, inversion velocity, peroneus longus reaction time, and subjective perception of instability during a simulated inversion task in adolescent basketball players with chronic ankle instability. It is hypothesised that the use of these prophylactic methods will result in better outcomes across the analysed variables, potentially contributing to a reduced risk of inversion sprains.
Inclusion Criteria: * Be an active basketball player; * Be aged between 12 and 19 years; * Have sustained an ankle sprain within the previous 12 months, accompanied by inflammatory signs (e.g., pain, oedema, restricted range of motion), which resulted in at least one day of absence from physical activity; * Have experienced their most recent ankle injury more than three months prior to enrolment in the study; * Report a history of ankle sprains and/or episodes of mechanical giving way and/or perceived ankle instability; * Achieve a score greater than 11 on the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) questionnaire.
Exclusion Criteria: * A previous history of lower-limb surgery; * A history of fracture requiring realignment in one or both lower limbs; * An acute injury affecting another lower-limb joint within the previous three months that resulted in at least one day of absence from physical activity.
[{"measure":"Maximum inversion","timeFrame":"From the onset of inversion to the point of maximum inversion."},{"measure":"Inversion Velocity","timeFrame":"During the inversion-to-eversion movement."},{"measure":"Reaction Time of the Peroneus Longus","timeFrame":"From the onset of inversion to the initiation of muscle contraction."},{"measure":"Subjective Perception of Instability","timeFrame":"Immediately after the inversion test."}]