CLINIC
Many runners wear supports, from ankle braces to neoprene thigh sleeves. Should you run in these braces or supports? Do they help or hinder your running?
YOUR EXPERT
Sports therapist Gareth Thomas is the director of Scholars Therapies based in Chorley in the north west of England (scholarstherapies.co.uk). Thomas has been treating runners for over a decade (sportsinjuryfi x.com)
The simple answer (but always the most annoying) is that it depends. Like most issues in the therapy world, there are very few black and white absolutes, and that can be both frustrating and confusing, so let’s take a closer look to try and explain your options clearly.
What do braces or supports do?
Let’s take one at a time. Braces are designed to limit a joint’s range of movement in order to protect certain soft tissue structures. An example of this would be an ankle brace, which is designed to stop people spraining their ankle by holding the joint in place. Very little evidence supports the theory these braces prevent injury by providing a physical restraint. However, one theory says that wearing the brace stimulates the body’s own defence against these injuries. In other words, people believe wearing this type of ankle brace will help stimulate the joint receptors and muscles to try and correct the ankle sprain movement.
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Sep 2021
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