Enhancing Performance and Protection Without Sacrificing Strength
In the world of sports and rehabilitation, the conversation around prophylactic bracing—especially for the ankle—is a hot topic. Athletic trainers and athletes alike often ask: Does bracing help, or does it hurt in the long run? And more specifically: Will I become reliant on a brace? Will it make my muscles weaker?
Let’s break it down with both research and real-world experience.
The Science: Bracing Works
Prophylactic bracing has been studied extensively. Landmark studies by Garrick and Requa, Sitler et al., and Surve et al. show a consistent trend: bracing reduces injuries.
- Sitler et al. found a 3-fold decrease in ankle injuries among braced cadets compared to non-braced controls.
- Surve et al. reported a 5-fold reduction in ankle sprains when comparing braced athletes to unbraced athletes who had a history of ankle injuries.
These studies confirm what many of us see every day on the field or in the clinic: bracing isn’t just mechanical protection—it also improves proprioception and enhances performance by giving athletes the stability they need to move confidently.
And importantly, these benefits come with minimal to no performance decrements. In fact, many athletes report enhanced performance because they feel more stable and secure.
Real Athletes. Real Results.
Just ask Quentin Nelson, 5x All Pro Offensive Guard for the Indianapolis Colts:
"TayCo Brace helped me play confidently without being afraid of re-injuring my ankle."
That confidence is key—especially at the highest level of competition, where one wrong step can change a season.
And for athletes like MK Doherty, a lacrosse midfielder at Notre Dame with a history of ankle injuries, the brace offers both physical and mental freedom:
"After a history of ankle injuries, the brace gave me the support to play at my full potential physically, while also giving me support mentally by limiting any thoughts or worries of potential re-injury. I would 100% recommend this brace to any female athlete looking for a more reliable ankle support option."
The takeaway? Prophylactic bracing isn't about restriction—it's about unlocking full potential.
The Counterpoint: Bracing Leads to Atrophy?
It’s a valid concern: Can bracing lead to muscle atrophy or over-reliance?
The short answer is: yes—if used incorrectly.
Bracing without proper physical therapy or exercise can lead to muscle weakening in some areas. But here’s the key distinction: bracing should always be part of a comprehensive treatment plan, not the sole solution.
Take the TayCo AthleticX Brace as an example. It's used by elite programs like the Indianapolis Colts and Notre Dame in conjunction with rigorous physical therapy. Why? Because even the best PT programs sometimes need support. Ankle injuries—especially in athletes with chronic instability or prior ligament damage—don’t always fully resolve with rehab alone. Bracing steps in where PT can’t finish the job.
Permanent Damage Demands More Than One Solution
What about individuals or athletes with:
- Chronic ankle instability
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)
- Degenerative arthritis (RA or OA)
- Structural deformities
- Ligament damage that simply won’t heal?
These aren’t situations where you can “just do more PT.” These are the real-world cases where adjunct treatments like using TayCo Brace over-the-shoe ankle supports and stabilizers make the difference between sitting out and staying in the game.
The brace isn’t a crutch. It’s a tool. Just like surgery, PT, or taping, it plays a role in a well-rounded treatment approach. If PT alone worked 100% of the time, we wouldn’t need bracing, orthotics, or surgical interventions. But we know that’s not reality.
So, Should You Brace?
Here’s our take: Bracing isn’t the end of the journey, it’s part of it. Use it smartly. Use it as a complement to your rehab, not a replacement. For those with permanent damage or persistent instability, it can be a game-changer.
And to the athlete or trainer questioning whether bracing causes weakness—we challenge you to consider the bigger picture: Are you going to give up on an athlete who’s done months or years of PT with little progress? Or are you going to give them every tool possible to get back to sport and daily life safely?
If the goal is to protect performance, extend careers, and reduce injury risk, then bracing—when paired with the right plan—is one of the smartest decisions you can make.
