Regardless of our fitness level, age or profession, yyou prone to incurring ankle sprains or injuries when you fall, when you force the ankle joint out of its normal position like when you land awkwardly on your foot when jumping or when suddenly the ankle twists too far. It is worth knowing that no two ankle injuries are similar as different bodies react differently to the injury and they have different recovery times.
Signs of an ankle injury
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Pain and tenderness
- Numbness and coldness in the foot
- Inability to bear weight on the joint
- Inability to walk
- Stiffness
The severity of ankle injury depends on how bad the ligaments are torn or stretched. A mild injury is accompanied by less pain and swelling and the ligaments may only be stretched but not torn. If the injury is severe, the ligaments maybe torn leading to more swelling of the ankle joint and it is accompanied by extreme pain.
Uses of ankle braces
Ankle braces are used as both preventive measure as well as a curative measure. The injuries in which ankle braces are effective are those in which the body weight rapidly alternates from one foot to another such as when running or playing tennis. This makes the ankle to twist resulting to injury of the ankle.
Ankle braces are used to reduce pain and swelling
The most common ankle injury is where the ankle rolls on one side leading to unbearable pain. In this case, a patient wears ankle braces with metallic support on the outer part to provide support to the injured tendons and ligaments as well as reduce the pain and the swelling caused by the injury.
In case you have ankle injuries that makes the joint to roll outwards, you should consider wearing braces that support both the outside as well as the inside of the ankle.
Ankle Brace Helps to prevent Future Injuries
Ankle braces helps to prevent future injuries to the ankles especially among people with sensitive ankles. Wearing ankle braces is more affordable than taping. Ankle braces are designed in a way than an athlete can wear them when training without feeling disrupted and still be protected from any ankle injury.
Ankle braces are light and they do not affect the skin, therefore, people with delicate ankle joints should always wear them before engaging in activities that will put the ankle in the line of injury.
There are three major types of ankle braces from which you can choose from depending on the level of injury and the amount of support desired. A good ankle brace should cover the ankle completely, should have a way to adjust the tightness such as Velcro and laces as well as supporting straps to wrap around the heel.
Types of ankle braces
Lace-up Ankle Braces
This is one of the most common type of ankle braces and it is often used for moderate ankle injuries or to prevent a mild ankle injury. Lace-up ankle braces are designed to prevent the ankle from making side to side as well as up down movements and they are available in different types including those with and without the figure-eight strapping system. They fit according to the shoe size and the ankle joint size, they have adjustments and brace fitting provided by Velcro system and they have an option for inserting semi rigid support for added medial and lateral stability.
Lace-up ankle braces with external straps provide a figure-eight strapping system that allows rapid tightening without having to re-lace the whole brace. A major benefit of the strap is increased ankle support.
These braces are reusable but they require more time to wear and take off especially those with the figure-eight strapping system.
Benefits of lace up ankle braces
- The combine an extremely light weight feel with durability
- Compared to other types of ankle braces, they provide more support and they can fit in most shoes.
- They have a universal fit for either the left or the right ankle.
Stirrup Ankle Braces
Stirrup ankle braces are widely used in sports due to their versatility and effectiveness in treating stress fractures, ankle injuries and repetitive ankle sprains. They are made of a hard plastic shell that extends on both sides of the ankle and uses easily adjustable Velcro straps to hold it into place.
These braces provide more side to side support but they can be difficult to fit in some shoes. When the knee is almost healed, a lace up ankle brace is recommended as it is more functional and prevents further injury.
Benefits of stirrup ankle braces
- Provides more side to side support compared to lac up ankle braces
- Provides compression which reduces swelling and pain
pull-on ankle braces
These are soft ankle sleeves almost similar to compressive socks which applies pressure on the ankle to provide moderate and mild support as well as keep it warm.
Some pull on ankle braces have metals support on the sides which helps to correct rolled ankles as well as prevent side to side movements.
Caring for ankle braces
- You should check the braces regularly for holes, cracks or extensive wear and tear and replace any damaged piece.
- Hand wash the neoprene liners, straps and pads in cold water with a mild detergent and air dry them
- Always rinse the braces with fresh water then air dry them after using them in salty water.
If you are active in sports, it is prudent to wear ankle braces to prevent ankle injuries. You should talk with your doctor or a brace coach to help you find an ankle brace that suits you best. But no matter the type of ankle brace you choose, you should ensure that it completely surrounds the ankle and it gives a good compression in order to get the most out of it.
