An athlete's use of silicone ankle sleeves (SAS) and lace-up ankle braces (LAB) during sports participation can improve neuromuscular control, according to research presented July 9 at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.
"Athletes often use prophylactic sleeves or braces, and this study used markerless motion analysis to determine whether these support aids are beneficial," said lead author Seth L. Sherman, MD, from the University of Missouri - Columbia Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
The study examined 10 subjects - five female and five male - who performed tests including the drop vertical jump (DJV), 45 degree bound, and various timed cutting maneuvers.