[Effect of external stabilizing agents of the ankle joint on sports motor capacities in one legged jumping].
In order to document sport specific skills, 23 athletes with functionally unstable ankle joints as well as 18 healthy volunteers were evaluated by performing a single leg jumping test. For external stabilization of the ankle an Aircast-Brace, a Ligafix-Air-Brace, a Malleoloc-Brace as well as a tape bandage were applied. There was no negative influence on the jumping performance of the tested stabilizing devices in the uninjured ankle joints. There was also no significant difference between the devices. For functional unstable ankle joints most of the devices showed significant improvement of jumping performance. The best results were achieved by the Aircast-Brace, followed by the Malleoloc-Brace, the Ligafix-Brace and the tape bandage. Again, there was no significant difference between these devices. While the reaction time showed no difference in all test situations, the time for stabilizing the ankle joint was significantly worse in those ankle joints without a brace.


CONCLUSIONS
For athletic activities, which are dominated by movement patterns comparable to the applied jumping test, the tested stabilizing devices seem to have no negative effect on sports specific capabilities.
Jerosch
J
J
Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Orthopädie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
Thorwesten
L
L
Frebel
T
T
D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001915:Braces; D004867:Equipment Design; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording / Q000295:instrumentation