title: Effects of soft bracing or taping on a lateral ankle sprain: a non-randomised controlled trial evaluating recurrence rates and residual symptoms at one year.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After sustaining an ankle sprain, taping is often the standard treatment in primary care. Ankle braces are sometimes used as an alternative. This study aimed to compare the effects of four weeks of soft bracing or taping following acute lateral ankle ligamentous sprain (ALALS) on sprain recurrence rates and residual symptoms at one year.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pragmatic, non-randomised controlled trial, 157 adult participants with an ALALS caused by an inversion trauma were alternately allocated to a four week treatment with a soft brace (intervention group) or a four week treatment with ankle tape (control group) in order of presentation. The primary outcome was the 1-year incidence of the self-reported recurrence of ALALS. The secondary outcome was the occurrence of residual symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics did not differ appreciably between the treatment groups. Thirteen patients (17%) in the brace group reported a re-injury versus 11 patients (14%) treated with tape, corresponding to a risk difference of 3.1% (relative risk 1.2, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.6). Cox regression analysis showed a hazard ratio of self-reported ankle sprain recurrence within 52 weeks in the brace group compared to the tape group of 0.9 (95% CI 0.4 to 1.9). After one year, patients in the brace group had poorer scores on the manual anterior ankle test, corresponding to a risk difference of 15.4% (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALALS recurrences and residual symptoms appear to be similar at one year when an ALALS is treated with four weeks of soft bracing or taping.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN92030205.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA The Netherlands ; Consumer Safety Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kemler
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA The Netherlands ; Revant Rehabilitation Centre, Breda, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van de Port
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmikli
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bionka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huisstede
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoes
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Backx
keywords: Ankle sprains; Athletic tape; Braces; Recurrence