Why ankle support

Prospective epidemiological studies have shown a decrease in the incidence of ankle injury with external ankle support use. The effectiveness of external ankle support was dependent upon the material properties and application method of the tape or brace, and on the athlete's status of ankle stability or previous injury.

Experimental studies have indicated that the degree of ankle inversion restriction provided, and the degree of loss of restriction after exercise, were dependent upon the external support tested. External ankle support has been reported to have no effect on performance, or to have an adverse effect on performance in a variety of movement tasks.

No prophylactic external ankle support has been shown to improve performance. If an external support is to provide mechanical support to a ligament it should exceed the strength of the ligament, which for the anterior fibular ligament is a force limit of between 6 and 56 kg.

These types of braces include lace-up variations, stirrup types, and air casts. If you desire a more custom fit, go for a lace-up style. This style may further be used when easing back into your regular activities and sports. For more severe ankle injuries, consider a more rigid or post-injury style and fit. Some styles are adjustable or come with inserts and have panels along the sides of them.

These may also be preferred immediately after an injury. Elastic supports or wraps offer support after an injury has healed or mostly healed. Thus, the elastic supports, wraps, or sleeve may be ideal for prevention of a recurring injury as well. They support a weak ankle. In the meantime, you can work on building up strength off the playing field. Slowly you may wean yourself off of using a brace at all which would be ideal in a healthy and active joint. We should note that for more chronic conditions, braces or sleeves may need to be worn frequently to ease pain levels or prevent increased pain levels and problems.

Sleeves, wraps, or elastic brace styles may further help alleviate swelling and fluid build-up via compression. It all comes down to what you need. Consider asking your doctor or physical therapist what type is best for you and your specific condition.

They can help you narrow it down and get you what you need. For size, you want it to fit snug - but not so snug that you cut off circulation. The lace-up braces you can easily adjust. Yet, you should still check out the sizing chart to determine exactly what size to order.

We also recommend conducting a little bit of research on how others found individual braces fit. For instance, does it run large? What do the reviews say? This one may come down to your budget. Bigger brands tend to cost more. Generic brands, on the other hand, cost less and sometimes, offer the same or similar functions.

If you plan on wearing your ankle brace for a short period of time such as a mild sprain , a generic and more affordable option may work best. If you need the support for a more chronic condition - like arthritis - you may want to invest a little more in your brace.

How does this happen? The brace offers support when you need it. But when used for the long-term, a brace may create weak muscles. Instead of actively working these muscles through activities, they are restricted by the brace. Ultimately, you use them less. And this leads to decreased strength. Decreased strength may lead to a recurring injury - which is likely the last thing you want.

When checking out braces from Back To Sport, look out for latex-free varieties if allergies are a concern. Is there a difference between buying at my local pharmacy versus buying from a more specialized store? Many pharmacies offer reliable and durable brace options. However, their selection may be limited, and you may not find the exact brace you need.

Specialized stores - like Back To Sport - offer more options, so you can find what you need and get the most suitable product for your injury or condition. It should fit snugly. Yes, most ankle braces are washable. Now that you know how crucial supporting your ankles are for your health, here are a few tips for how to best support your ankles:.

Stretching enables your muscles and tendons to properly do their job without putting too much pressure on the feet and ankles. It encourages joint flexibility and allows your foot and ankle to better accommodate uneven or unexpected terrain you walk on. Three good stretches for your ankles include:.

Ankle braces can be great for support. They lock down the joint and if you have weak ankles from an injury, they limit motion during rehab.

However, if you wear an ankle brace every day to prevent injuries you are fairly likely to weaken your ankle. Ankle braces are best used for brief periods of time and only when rehabilitating an injury, not for prevention. You may also need to find specific shoes to accommodate the size of the ankle braces.

Ankle tape is typically used for injury prevention, but like ankle braces, they have similar downsides. When you support the ankle joint in a way that is rigid, the lack of flexibility leads to weakening the joint over time.

Ankle tape also requires a certain level of expertise to apply because the support you receive is dependent on the taping pattern. It is also more practical than wearing ankle braces because you can still wear your regular shoes. Compression Socks are an excellent option for supporting your ankles because they can work for both injury prevention and injury rehabilitation.

They also help manage the effects of vibrations on the body during high impact physical activities such as running or jumping. There are various lengths of Compression Socks available on the market, however, different lengths of socks result in different degrees Running is one of the easiest exercises to build endurance and get outside!