High shoes can increase the risk of ankle sprain in some people or during the practice of a sporting activity.
- When a person is stationary or doing static activities, while standing, well-fitting high-top sneakers provide good stability.
- On the other hand, during movement, these shoes can increase the risk of injury and spraining the ankle.
- Wearing this type of trainer can delay or even weaken the activation of the muscles located on the outside of the leg.
It is the most common trauma to the musculoskeletal system. Ankle sprain is the cause of 7 to 10% of hospital emergency visits, according to health insurance. Every day, 6,000 French people suffer from it and go to a doctor to treat it. Growing young people and athletes are more likely to be affected.
High-top sneakers offer good stability when standing still
To reduce the risk of sprains, many people rely on high-top sneakers. The reason is simple: they are designed to offer better ankle protection by wrapping this joint with a more rigid material. In a publication by The Conversation, Australian researchers explain that according to some research, this rigidity can provide good stability. In particular, when “external forces” can cause an ankle sprain when the person is still. For example, when standing still, hit on the side and start to tip over, which puts pressure on the ankle.
Sprain: these shoes change the way muscles are used during movement
However, when you start moving, high-top sneakers can increase the risk of ankle sprain. This can be explained by the fact that these shoes can alter the way we use the muscles in our ankles and legs. According to Australian scientists, the muscles on the outside of the lower leg may start to fire later and not work as hard to stiffen the ankle when a person wears high-top shoes. “To decrease the risk of a sprain, it’s important that the muscles on both sides of the leg work together at the same time.”
The team found that the delayed and weaker activation of muscles on the outside of the leg was greater in people with chronic ankle instability. Thus, these sneakers are arguably not the best for people with a history of ankle sprains. In addition, wearing high-top shoes could impair athletic performance by reducing jump height and increasing shock transmission to other parts of the body.
How to prevent sprains?
To avoid injury, it is important to choose shoes adapted to the length and width of the foot. “Poorly fitting shoes can promote falls, induce higher levels of osteoarthritis and impair foot function in adults and children,” reported the Australian scientists.
According to them, it may be beneficial to wear well-fitting high-top sneakers during static activities, in a standing position. On the other hand, low shoes would be more advantageous for sports activities that require frequent stops, jumps, sudden changes of direction or for people with a history of ankle sprains.
Another tip: external supports, such as tapes and splints can be effective, especially when combined with exercises that strengthen the ankle and leg muscles.