Stay on the Pitch: How Ankle Braces Protect Soccer Players From Sprains

Stay on the Pitch: How Ankle Braces Protect Soccer Players From Sprains

Playing a sport comes with a risk for injuries and with soccer ankle sprains are the most common and can sideline players for weeks or months. These injuries happen when ligaments that help stabilize the ankle are overstretched or torn. Whether it’s during a sprint, sharp cut, or tackle, one misstep can lead to swelling, pain, and reduced performance. Fortunately, wearing proper ankle support, especially ankle braces, has been shown in recent studies to reduce the risk and severity of ankle sprains. Here’s how they help and what the science says.

What is an Ankle Sprain and Why Recurrence Matters

An ankle sprain typically involves damage to one or more of the ligaments around the ankle joint most often the lateral ligaments from inversion sprains. An initial sprain weakens the joint stability and proprioception (your sense of where the foot/ankle is in space). That means once you've had one, you're at higher risk for recurring ankle sprain. Ongoing instability can also lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, and possibly long-term damage.

How Ankle Braces Provide Protection

• Mechanical stability / motion restriction: Ankle braces limit certain motions (for example, excessive inversion or rolling of the ankle) that often cause sprains. This acts as a buffer, especially in unpredictable field conditions.
• Sensory feedback / proprioception: Braces also give feedback, making the wearer more aware of their ankle’s position.  This is one of the under looked benefits of ankle braces.  That feedback can prompt safer foot placement, more controlled landings, and more cautious cutting or pivoting.
• Support after prior injury: If you’ve sprained your ankle before, the ligaments and joint may be looser or less stable. Braces provide external support that helps reduce further damage while you heal and build strength.  In a 2021 study they found that athletes with a history of low-grade ankle sprains wearing external bracing reduced recurrence by up to 47% when compared with neuromuscular/proprioceptive exercises alone.¹

Best Practices for Soccer Players

To get the most benefit from ankle braces and support while minimizing downsides:

1. Choose the right brace: Lace-up, semi-rigid, or adaptive bracing each has pros and cons. You’ll want good support without overly limiting movements essential in soccer (e.g., quick lateral shifts, cutting, and kicking).
2. Ensure correct fit: A brace that’s too loose won’t protect; too tight may restrict circulation or impair performance.
3. Use braces in high-risk periods: Such as after a recent injury or when fatigue sets in (late games, double practices).
4. Complement with balance, strength, and proprioception training: Bracing helps, but it’s only part of a prevention program. Neuromuscular training (balance boards, single-leg drills, agility work) helps rebuild ankle stability.
5. Monitor return-to-play carefully: Recovery isn’t just about time it’s about function. Make sure range of motion, strength, balance, and confidence are restored before returning fully.

Conclusion

Ankle sprains are among the most common soccer injury but thanks to recent studies, there's strong evidence that ankle braces and ankle support significantly reduce the risk of both first-time and recurring ankle sprains. Using them smartly, combined with proper training and rehab, means more time on the pitch, less time in the medical room and a healthier, more resilient player overall.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EVAN JEFFRIES is a physical therapist with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.  He is also the owner of Evolving Motion Physical Therapy and has vast knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and has treated many orthopedic conditions by bringing a proactive approach to healthcare and lifestyle.  Recently he has also been active on social media as an injury analyst mainly in related to injuries NBA players have sustained.   Evan can be followed on his social media accounts.

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1. Desai, Keyur MD; Zeller, Anne Marie DO, MSc. In athletes with a history of low-grade ankle sprains, does long-term bracing prevent future ankle sprains?. Evidence-Based Practice 24(6):p 27-28, June 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/EBP.0000000000001004