Short answerYes. In people who play sport, ankle supports roughly halved the number of ankle sprains, and the gain was greater in those who had sprained an ankle before.

Evidence grade

Does not helpNot enough evidenceHelps a littleGood evidence

Good evidence it helps

What it is

An ankle brace is a support worn around the ankle to limit the sideways rolling that causes most sprains. The trials used semi-rigid braces and air-cast braces, and some used tape. This page covers prevention in active people, not treatment of a new sprain.

What the research shows

pooled trials of people in active sports such as soccer and basketball. External ankle supports reduced the number of ankle sprains by almost half (relative risk 0.53, range 0.40 to 0.69). The reduction was greater in people who had sprained an ankle before, and it was still seen in those who had not. Supports did not change the severity of sprains that happened, or the number of other leg injuries.

The review searched for trials only up to the year 2000. found that taping, bracing and balance training were each effective in preventing repeat sprains. A brace or tape combined with balance training gave the best results for the least burden on the athlete.

Risks and effort

Braces are bulky in a shoe, and they have to be worn for every session to protect you.

What usually works instead

Balance and strength training for the ankle helps to prevent repeat sprains. See Sprained Ankle and Rehabilitation for Ankle Sprain.

Questions people ask

Is a brace or tape better?

Both worked. In the later review, bracing, taping and balance training were each effective, and a brace or tape plus balance training was best.

Do I need one if I have never sprained my ankle?

The protection was greatest after a previous sprain, but it was still seen in people with no earlier sprain.

Will a brace weaken my ankle?

The trials measured sprains, and not muscle strength. Balance and strength training alongside the brace is the usual advice.

Sources

Select a source to read what the study or guideline found, in plain words, with a link to the original.

Sources

Cochrane review

1Cochrane review of ankle supports to prevent sprains

Who and when. Handoll, Rowe, Quinn and de Bie, Cochrane Collaboration, published in 2001.

What they did. They pooled trials of people in active sports such as soccer and basketball using external ankle supports.

What they found. Supports cut the number of ankle sprains by almost half (relative risk 0.53, range 0.40 to 0.69). The reduction was greater in people who had sprained an ankle before and was still seen in those who had not. Supports did not change how severe sprains were or the number of other leg injuries.

What it means. Supports prevent sprains in active people. The review searched trials only to the year 2000.

Handoll HHG, Rowe BH, Quinn KM, de Bie R. Interventions for preventing ankle ligament injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(3):CD000018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000018

Read the review →

Critical review

2British Journal of Sports Medicine review of ankle sprain prevention

Who and when. Verhagen and Bay, published in 2010.

What they did. They appraised the literature on ways to prevent ankle sprains, including taping, bracing and balance training.

What they found. Taping, bracing and balance training were each effective in preventing repeat sprains. A brace or tape combined with balance training gave the best results for the least burden on the athlete.

What it means. Combining a brace with balance training looks like the best approach.

Verhagen EA, Bay K. Optimising ankle sprain prevention: a critical review and practical appraisal of the literature. Br J Sports Med. 2010;44(15):1082-1088.