Impact of an Outside-the-Boot Ankle Brace on Sprains Associated with MilitaryAirborne Training

摘要

Ankle injuries account for 30%-60% of parachute jump-related injuries. Todetermine if ankle bracing would reduce the incidence of jump-related ankle sprains, a prospective, randomized trial of an outside-the-boot ankle brace was conducted. Volunteers were sought from four classes at the US Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. Of 1414 students briefed, 777 volunteered; 389 were assigned to wear braces, 388 served as controls. Of these, 745 students completed all study requirements (369 brace wearers and 376 non-brace wearers). Each volunteer made 5 static-line jumps for a total of 3674 jumps. The incidence of ankle sprains was 1.9% in non-brace wearers, and 0.3% in brace wearers (risk ratio 6.3:1, p=0.04). Other injuries did not appear to be affected by the brace. Overall, 5.1% of the non-brace group, and 4.3% of the brace group experienced at least one injury, including minor contusions. The risk ratio for all injuries was 1.2:1 (non-brace to brace groups), p=0.92. These data indicate that the incidence of inversion ankle sprains can be significantly reduced by use of an outside-the-boot ankle brace with no increase in the risk of other injuries. Injury, Injury prevention, Airborne, Parachuting, Ankle brace, Ankle sprain.