To understand the ever-present risk of injury in soccer, you don’t have to be surrounded by players with the ball at your feet. According to the research of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, there were 12 ankle sprains per 1000 hours of play or one injury per 2.5 games.
Ankle sprains occur when a player’s foot rolls, stretching the ligaments in the ankle and causing injury. A slight ankle sprain can cost you 1-2 weeks of playing time, while a full ligament tear can take months to heal.
Soccer players who have previously injured their ankles tape ankles for support, although they are more likely to utilize ankle braces or sleeves because tape restricts movement and lowers performance, loses its support efficiency quickly, weakens the ankle over time, and is inconvenient to wear.
Many people believe that ankle protection is impossible to employ in soccer because it restricts ankle control and mobility. However, these staggering figures show that ankle protection may be a good idea if athletes want to avoid injury and return to safe and skilled play.
Perhaps it is time to reconsider what is feasible. What do professional soccer players do to prevent those injuries? Do they tape their ankles? Let’s find out.
What Type of Tape Do Pro Soccer Players Use
Football Sock tape – is designed to keep socks in place, but it may also be used for shoe tape. To use it just wrap the sock tape a few times around your upper calf. Fold the top of the sock over again. We highly recommend these (affiliate link)
Cohesive sock Wrap – Some athletes prefer to cut the foot off their team socks and wear their own ankle socks. These ‘grip’ socks include little dots across the bottom that promote traction within the shoe. This keeps the foot from moving around inside the shoe, improving stability and ball feel.
Sock wrap is one of the most popular football tapes since it is simple to apply. It’s utilized to create the illusion of a single sock by bridging the gap between the top of the ‘grip’ sock and the bottom of the cut-off team sock. This also aids in the retention of the shin pad’s bottom.
Sock wrap (affiliate link) is a better option because it is wider and has no glue, allowing it to be re-used game after game and being gentler on any exposed flesh. According to current football rules, any tape should be the same color as the socks.
ZINC OXIDE TAPE – When it comes to immobilizing an area, this tape is the greatest option. It’s a non-stretch tape that gives you unbeatable support. The most typical application of ZINC OXIDE TAPE (affiliate link) is to support joints such as the ankle, knee, and shoulder due to its tensile strength. It’s normally disguised by a sock or jersey, so you won’t see it on display.
KINESIOLOGY TAPES – are used to facilitate mobility. They stretch and move with the body when applied. This allows for more dynamic support and improved proprioceptive feedback. These colorful tapes are frequently seen fastened to the leg of your favorite player. They are the most popular choice for muscular injuries since they are used for neural feedback. These are well-proven with a fair price (affiliate link).
Why Pro Players Shouldn’t Tape Their Ankles
Injury prevention – Usually after 20 minutes, tape loses 80% of its support efficiency; players are frequently astonished at how rapidly tape becomes useless; proprioception is then relied upon.
Ankle Rehabilitation – Tape weakens the ankle over time, therefore it’s best to avoid it. The tape is designed to restrict the most range of ankle mobility, but it also restricts active use of the ankle tendons and ligaments, slowing rehabilitation and weakening the ankle over time, leading to a need for assistance.
Performance – Tape limits movement and reduces performance.
Cost – The tape may only be used once before being discarded, causing waste and expense; it must be applied by a professional physiotherapist; it cannot be re-adjusted fast, and it takes time to apply.
Bulky & Uncomfortable To Wear – Wearing tape under your sock increases the diameter of your foot and ankle, which feels thick and awkward once you put your shoes on, which distracts you from playing and slows you down. In damp conditions (or by sweat), tape soon becomes compromised and becomes much more uncomfortable. It also causes a separation between the foot and the boot, which might detract from the game.
Do Taping Ankles Affect Control in Pro Soccer Players
A study was done to see if applying tape to the ankles of professional footballers may improve their ankle proprioception.20 male professional football players over the age of 18 who were currently game suitable with no injuries and playing for a UK Championship League Football Club in the middle of the season took part in the study.
The study found that applying tape to the ankles of professional footballers did not result in a significant difference in player scores when tested- The findings of this study do not support the use of tape to improve proprioception in healthy footballers ankles.
Alternatives for Ankle Taping
Ankle braces can minimize ankle sprains by 50-80% by providing ligament protection and ongoing support, allowing players to stay on the field. Bracing alternatives from Active Ankle are made with soccer mobility in mind.
Ankle braces (affiliate link) are frequently misunderstood to be detrimental to sports performance. Braces and athletic performance go hand-in-hand when properly fitted and administered because confident players are unstoppable.
The key is to choose an ankle brace that is fitted to each player’s body type, ligament health, and playing style. Each athlete can utilize the Active Ankle brace that matches their current support needs and change according to their injury prevention and/or treatment plan, whether they’re recuperating from an injury or want to be proactive about maintaining their ligaments.
Ankle sleeves – offer a moderate degree of support while allowing for optimum mobility on the soccer field. The Plantar Fasciitis Sock (affiliate link) is a low-profile solution for supporting ligaments, preventing swelling, and keeping the joint warm. It’s best utilized as a preventive brace by players with stronger ankles who want to keep complete ankle control.
Lace-up braces provide familiar support and mobility to players who require or desire athletic taping, while also maintaining protection and being easier to change in-game. In fact, the Active Ankle AS1 Pro Brace’s integrated vertical straps will remind players of a secure tape heel-lock. These lessen the risk, but they don’t allow for complete mobility, thus each player must consider the benefits and drawbacks.
Rigid ankle braces – provide the best protection for ligaments. They weren’t popular among soccer players for a long time because they limited mobility. Until the Active Ankle Eclipse I Brace arrived on the scene. This ankle brace guards against rolling while opening the inner ankle for better ankle mobility.
It is designed with a single stiff upright (rather than the typical double upright). The Eclipse I acts as a proactive support system for players who need to practice and play while healing from ankle injuries.
Taping Ankle Over Shoes
To play football, you’ll need a lot of equipment. While the majority of football equipment has obvious applications, others may leave you rolling your eyes. Taping football shoes is one such example. Although “spatting,” or taping your cleats, isn’t a new concept in football, many fans and even players don’t understand why it’s done.
Does spatting assist your ankles?
Spatting is primarily used to reduce the possibility of athletes rolling or twisting their ankles while playing. Indeed, a player or athletic trainer may apply so much tape that it resembles a miniature leg cast. When running and making quick, precise turns on the field, this can also aid support a player’s ankle for improved body movement and coordination.
While injury avoidance and increased mobility are two significant advantages of taping shoes, some players prefer the comfort of knowing that their shoes are more secure and less likely to slip off during a game. If you’re thinking about taping your shoes for the first time, see if a trainer or coach can assist you.
If the tape is excessively tight, it will impede your ankle movement, but the tape that is too loose will have little or no effect.
So, what kind of football tape do you need?
The recommended spatting tape is a stretch tape, often known as elastic adhesive tape. Without the use of a scissor-like instrument, it’s lighter and easy to put on and take off by yourself.
It can also be applied in one continuous motion rather than being torn off in bits all the time. Elastic adhesive tape stretches to conform to the shape of the foot, resulting in a cleaner outcome as well as more comfort and less bulk.
Conclusion
During a game of football at any level, almost every player on the field will be wearing some type of football tape. The majority of the time, they can be found on the players’ socks or limbs, although they can also be hidden.
There are several types of tapes that athletes use, if they don’t wear them, they probably wear some other type of ankle protection. We do not doubt that novel approaches to prevent and mobilize ankle injuries will arise, considering that ankle injuries are the most common ones in football.
Quality tape, an ankle brace, or an ankle sleeve will suffice till then.
