Is there evidence to support ankle or knee braces?

 Should athletes wear a brace after injuring their knee or ankle?

The answer is different depending on the injury.

A systematic review found that wearing an ankle brace during sports significantly reduces the risk of re-injury for those who had sprained their ankle previously. Bracing even reduced the number of sprains for those who had not previously been injured, although this effect was smaller.

If you’ve injured your ankle in the past and play a sport that requires cutting, jumping, landing, or aggressive movements, then put that ankle brace on!

But also see a good physical therapist to gain strength and stability of the ankle.

For athletes recovering from ACL reconstruction, studies show no overall benefit of knee bracing either in the short term after surgery, or longer term as they return to sport. In fact, knee braces have been shown to negatively affect athletic performance at high levels, as they can decrease maximum strength and speed.

If you are working on getting back to sports following an ACL tear, you should go through a thorough return-to-sport battery of tests after you are cleared by your surgeon, to determine if you are ready for the demands of your sport.

See a sports physical therapist for this!

But wearing a brace does not change overall outcomes or reduce risk of injury following an ACL reconstruction, and a brace should not be relied on to prevent re-injury.  If you are feeling less than confident in returning to your sport, then talk to a sports PT to work on the deficits that may still exist. 

Of course, follow the instructions of your surgeon, as they are most familiar with your particular situation.

Barelds, I., van den Broek, A.G. & Huisstede, B.M.A. Ankle Bracing is Effective for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Acute Ankle Injuries in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Sports Med 48, 2775–2784 (2018). 

Yang, Xiong-gang, et al. "The effect of knee bracing on the knee function and stability following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research 105.6 (2019): 1107-1114.