Comparison of Swede-O-Universal® Ankle Support and Aircast® Sport-Stirrup™ Orthoses and Ankle Tape in Restricting Eversion-Inversion Before and After Exercise

Michael T. Gross, Anne K. Lapp, J. Marc Davis

Presented at the Sports Physical Therapy Section Team Concept Meeting, December 1990, Orlando, FL.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Swede-O-Universal^® Ankle Support and Aircast^® Sport-Stirrup^TM orthoses and ankle tape in restricting eversion-inversion before and after exercise. Subjects were eight males and eight females with no history of ankle injury during the six months prior to testing, neurological condition, lower extremity arthritis, lower extremity fracture, cardiac condition, or balance problems. A Biodex dynamometer and computer were used to impose passive moments and to measure eversion and inversion of an ankle support system prior to application, following application, and following 10 minutes of figure-of-eight running and 20 unilateral toe raises. Both ankles of each subject were assessed for each of the three ankle support systems. All support systems significantly reduced eversion and inversion following application and following exercise. Eversion increased significantly following exercise for all support systems, and inversion increased significantly for the tape system. Eversion measurements did not differ among the support systems following exercise. Inversion measurements following exercise were less for the tape and Aircast systems than the Swede-O-Universal system. The authors discuss additional factors involved in selecting an ankle support system. The results should assist clinicians in selecting ankle support systems designed to protect against initial and recurrent ankle sprain injuries.

 J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;13(1):11-19.

View Full Article