| Context. There have been a plethora of studies on the use of ankle braces investigating the effectiveness of injury prevention and the effects they have on performance. However, there have been very few studies evaluating the long-term effects of prophylactic ankle braces on dynamic postural control and functional performance over an extended period of time. Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of prophylactic ankle brace use over a 16-week high school basketball season had any adverse effects on dynamic postural control and functional activity. Design. The design for the SEBT was 2x3x3 factorial design. The independent variables were limb (dominant and non-dominant), time (pre-season, mid-season, and postseason) and direction of the SEBT (anteromedial(AM), medial(M), posteromedial(PM)). The dependent variable is the reach distance recorded in each of the three directions. The Functional Testing included three 2x3 factorial designs. The independent variables were limb (dominant and non-dominant) and time (pre-season, mid-season, and post-season) for all three. The dependent variables were the measures from the three functional tests (single leg triple cross-over hop, SL vertical jump and SL 6-m hop for time). Setting. A north central AAA West Virginia high school athletic facility and athletic training room. Patients or other oarticipants. Twenty-one athletes(42 ankles) on basketball teams at East Fairmont High School; 13 girls (15.69 +/- .630 years, Ht. 171.35 +/- 5.14 cm, mass 58.74 +/- 4.29 kg) and 8 boys, (16.25 +/- 1.035 years, Ht 182.88 +/- 7.80 cm, mass 73.64 +/- 13.07 kg) completed the study. All subjects met the inclusion criteria, which included no lower extremity injury or surgery within the past six months, has not experienced or diagnosed with any disorders in the past six months or taking medications that may alter their ability to balance prior to testing. Subjects were excluded if they are currently participating in a balance-training program. Interventions. The subjects were issued two Ankle Stabilizing Orthosis (ASO) ankle braces. Each subject was instructed by the primary investigator thoroughly on the technique to apply the braces correctly in addition to the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. Braces were worn on both extremities. The subjects were tested using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and on three functional tests three times during the season; before the first practice, mid way through the season, and after the completion of the season. The competitive high school basketball season was 16 weeks. Main outcome measures. It is expected that there will be a decrease between each of the pre-, mid-, and post-season test for the SEBT. It is also expected that there will be a difference between the pre-, mid-, and post-season testing of each of the three functional testing. Results. SEBT: Main Effect for time (F2,40 = 47.268, P <.001, ES = .703, beta = 1.000) and direction (F2,40 = 19.118, P < .001, ES .489, beta = 1.000). Pairwise Comparisons were significant for both limbs and all times for posteromedial, Medial, and anteromedial. Functional Test: Single leg triple cross-over: Main effect for time (F 2,40 = 30.176, P < .001, ES = .601, beta = 1.000). Pairwise Comparisons were significant for both limbs and between all time periods. Single leg vertical hop: significant main effect of both limb (F1,20 = 21.024, P < .001, ES = .512, beta = .992) and time (F2,40 = 55.257, P < .001, ES = .734, beta = 1.000). Pairwise Comparisons were significant for both limbs and between all time periods. Single leg 6-M hop for time: statistically significant main effect of time (F2,40 = 30.868, P < .001, ES = .607, beta = 1.000). Pairwise Comparisons were significant for both limbs and between all time periods. All other results were not significant. Conclusions. Long-term prophylactic ankle brace use did not did not have detrimental effects on dynamic postural control as measured by the SEBT or a decrease in performance of the three SL Functional tests. |
