Should Athletes Use a Brace or Tape to Manage Injuries?

Bracing and taping are common solutions for managing injury recovery for athletes. No matter what the injury is, even after ample time off to rest and heal, it needs a little support to allow athletes to return to their previous level of competition. Unfortunately, ankle injuries, which are one of the most frequent sports injuries, can be slow to heal and have a high risk of re-injury. Bracing and taping are the best ways to ensure recovery, but while both can greatly reduce the risk of re-injury, the question is, which one is best?

At the medcom group, we have helped countless athletes return to form by providing doctors, physical therapists, and athletes themselves with the highest-quality rehabilitation equipment. In order to help steer you in the right direction towards optimal recovery, what follows is a comprehensive review of bracing and taping along with specialized insight into which is best for you.

The Benefits of Bracing

Braces are widely used orthopedic devices that can help when you have an injury to the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. Braces are typically worn around the affected body part, and they provide compression which can help to prevent and reduce swelling which then reduces pain and improves your range of movement. They also offer musculoskeletal support that can help relieve aches, prevent injury, and aid the healing process.

Braces tend to have a rigid structure to provide robust support. They limit motion and offer general stability to the affected joint or body part while it heals. You can use braces to help heal sprains or tears, as well as after surgical procedures that require limited movement for rehabilitation of the affected body part. You may also like to wear a brace to provide support and comfort for acute injuries sustained during athletic activities, or you can use them to help prevent old injuries from reoccurring. A popular design is a knee brace that combines the support and benefits of a sleeve, such as compression, but also features elements that stabilize the patella as well as the knee itself through additional stays. For active athletes, lace-up ankle braces are available that enable you to compete while receiving high-quality support.

The Benefits of Taping

Traditional taping is another common method of preventing injury, especially among athletes. This is a method that involves using a more rigid athletic tape to keep muscles or bones in a certain position. This is especially used in areas of the body near joints, such as ankles, wrists, and hands. This added support can help prevent sprains, breaks, or other injuries that may occur from exercise and competitive sports. Similarly, tape can help prevent the recurrence of old injuries.

Myths of Bracing and Taping

It is a common myth that wearing ankle braces or taping to prevent ankle injuries will weaken the ankle. The thought is that by adding support, your body becomes accustomed to help and doesn’t build up the appropriate strength it needs if it doesn’t have the support. Furthermore, some believe that bracing and taping can lead to injuries in other parts of the leg. However, research disagrees with this. Studies show that bracing and taping are effective ways of preventing musculoskeletal injuries and improving recovery outcomes. In fact, athletes who have had a previous ankle injury receive even greater benefit from ankle taping and bracing compared to those without previous ankle injuries.

Precautions

Patients who intend to use braces or taping should be aware of some potential downsides before using them. Skin irritation can occur from taping directly to the skin, especially if someone has an allergy to adhesives. It’s also important that the tape lay as flat as possible on the body, meaning there are no creases or folds. Bracing can cause skin irritation as well in addition to discomfort if they are not fitted properly, so it’s important to make sure that the patient is sized appropriately.

Brace vs Tape: Which is Best?

Depending on the severity of the injury and the area of the body that is injured, both taping and bracing have their distinct advantages. In general, the smaller, bonier bits of the body – like thumbs, fingers, and toes – are best supported by tape. These small bits of the body are meant to be mobile, something that tape can provide.

Alternatively, areas that support the weight of the body, like knees and ankles, will benefit from bracing. The braces give additional support to the joints that are already subject to a lot of wear and tear from the body’s weight. Unfortunately, tape can lose its rigidity through activity even after only 20 minutes - this is usually due to repetitive movements and moisture from sweat causing the tape to become more elastic. Braces, on the other hand, never lose their structural support. Finally, the majority of studies on taping versus bracing conclude that bracing is slightly more effective at preventing ankle injuries.

If you’re searching for a solution to provide support to various parts of your body, don’t hesitate to contact the knowledgeable team at the medcom group. We have extensive bracing equipment available for rent and purchase, including for the ankle, foot, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, spine, neck, and wrist. For more information or to get started on your journey to optimized recovery and injury prevention, give the medcom group a call today!