A pair of researchers at the University of Wisconsin Sports Medicine
Tim McGuine, PhD, ATC, and Dr. Alison Brooks conducted a study that
showed that lace-up ankle braces, specifically the McDavid 195
Ultralight Ankle Brace, helps prevent ankle injuries in amateur
basketball players.
The controlled
study involved 1,460 male and female (ages 13-18) basketball players from 46
high school schools across the country. During the 2009-2010 season,
one group wore McDavid 195 Ultralight Ankle Braces exclusively and the
other group did not wear any braces. Results of the study show that the
athletes who didnt wear the McDavid lace-up ankle brace showed a rate
of injury nearly 10 percent higher than those who wore the brace.
“They started by soliciting ankle braces from all manufacturers who
were willing to participate,” said Rey Corpuz, director of marketing
for McDavid, in a company statement. “A sample group of players were
given seven brands of ankle braces to try on, and were then asked: ‘If
you were to purchase one of these braces, which would you choose?
According to McGuine, the choice was determined on fit, comfort,
effectiveness and whether or not the athletes would actually buy the
brace on their own. It came down to two brands, including ours, and in
the end, the decision was made to proceed with McDavid exclusively.”
“Ankle injuries are one of the most common types of injuries,
especially among high school basketball players,” Brooks said in the
statement. “Once an athlete has sustained an injury, rehab and a brace
can reduce the risk of re-injury.”
This is the first study of its kind to prove that lace-up ankle braces,
specifically the McDavid 195 Ultralight, can reduce the incidence of
acute ankle injuries in male and female amateur basketball players.
