Do High Top Shoes Actually Reduce Ankle Sprain Risk? Here’s What the Research Says

Sergey Furtaev/Shutterstock

Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, particularly in sports like netball, basketball, and football where jumping, landing on one foot, and sudden direction changes are part of the game.

Ankle sprains can be painful, debilitating, and may result in ongoing ankle problems. In fact, people with a history of a previous ankle sprain are more likely to sprain an ankle again in the future.

Prevention is key. In an effort to reduce sprain risk, many people look for “high-top” shoes, where the section around the side of the shoe (also known as the “collar”) extends up closer to the ankle.

But what does the research say? Do high-top shoes actually reduce your sprain risk?

In an effort to reduce sprain risk, many people look for high-top shoes.  Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

High-Tops Don’t Always Help–and Can Sometimes Harm

Plenty of research exists on this topic but unraveling the truth is complicated by inconsistencies between studies. Researchers may have different ways of investigating the issue—of measuring the shoe’s success,—or even different ways of defining a “high-top” shoe.

For example, the reported difference in collar height between “high-top” to “low-top” shoes was considerable, ranging from 4.3 to 8.5cm across different studies.

That said, the trend in the current research literature suggests that ankle protection provided by high-top shoes may not be enough to significantly reduce sprain risk while playing sports.

In fact, this design may also reduce athletic performance, and increase the risk of ankle sprain in some people.

The research does support the idea that high-top shoes provide good stability when outside forces may cause an ankle sprain when the person is stationary (for example, when a person standing still is knocked from the side and starts to topple over, putting stress on the ankle).

However, once you start moving it’s a different story. In fact, some research suggests high-top shoes may even increase the risk of ankle sprain in some activities.

This may be because these shoes can change the way we use the muscles in our ankles and legs.

Specifically, the muscles on the outside of the lower leg may start firing later and not work as strongly to stiffen the ankle when you’re wearing high-top shoes (compared to low-top shoes).

To reduce ankle sprain risk, it is important the muscles on both sides of the legs work together at the same time.

Tellingly, delayed and weaker activation of the muscles on the outside of the lower leg is greater in people with chronic ankle instability. This finding suggests high-top shoes may not be the best choice for anyone with a history of ankle sprain.

There is also some evidence wearing high-top shoes may impede athletic performance by reducing jump height and increasing shock transmission to other parts of the body.

What is crucial when selecting footwear is good fit and good function. Ground Picture/Shutterstock

Getting the Right Fit

External supports such as tape and braces are effective in both uninjured and previously injured ankles. But they’re most effective when used in combination with preventive exercise programs.

What is crucial when selecting footwear is good fit and good function. Footwear should fit the foot in length, width, and depth, with a thumb’s width between the end of the longest toe and the tip of the shoe. You should have enough space across the ball of the foot for it to not be pulled tight when standing.

However, around 70 percent of people are wearing shoes that are not fitted appropriately. Women and girls more often wear shoes that are too narrow, and older males often wear shoes that are too long.

Ill-fitting footwear can increase falls, induce greater levels of osteoarthritis, and impedes natural foot function in adults and children.

Make sure you’ve got the right shoe for the job. Form must suit function.

As an example, there’s merit in wearing a well-fitted high-top sneaker during static, standing-based activities.

However, a low-top sneaker may be more beneficial during sporting activities that require frequent stopping, jumping, sudden changes in direction, or for people with a history of ankle sprains.

Kristin Graham, Lecturer in Podiatry, University of South Australia; Helen Banwell, Lecturer in Podiatry, University of South Australia; Lewis Ingram, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; Ryan Causby, Dean of Programs (Allied Health), University of South Australia, and Saravana Kumar, Professor in Allied Health and Health Services Research, University of South Australia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.