![]() ![]() "The continued support will prevent the surrounding muscles from strengthening and can actually weaken the joint," she adds. ![]() Otherwise, an ankle brace can do more harm than good. That means you can wear an ankle brace to reduce your risk of injury - but should do so sparingly. Even if you're accident-prone or have been diagnosed with chronic ankle instability by a podiatrist, a foot brace is really for "occasional use, such as a hike on uneven ground or sports with a lot of lateral movement," according to Dr. Best for Sports: Futuro Performance Ankle SupportĬontrary to popular belief, Maryland-based podiatrist Priya Parthasarathy, DPM says it's best to wait until after an injury occurs to wear an ankle brace, rather than using one consistently as a preventative measure.Best Stirrup: Aircast Air-Stirrup Light Support.Best Strap: DonJoy Figure 8 Ankle Sleeve.Best Compression Sleeve: Futuro Comfort Ankle Support.Best Stabilizing: Med Spec Aso Ankle Stabilizer.The Best Ankle Braces on Amazon, According to Podiatrists She tells Health that wearing an ankle brace can prevent excessive foot movements or "abnormal biomechanics" that could potentially cause discomfort and inflammation. "An ankle brace, when worn after an injury, would help support the ankle and foot by providing an external layer of support to help facilitate healing the injured internal structures (ligaments and muscle tendons)," says Chanel Perkins, DPM, an assistant professor of podiatry at University of Texas Medical Branch. Luckily, an ankle brace may be able to help. But it's a common occurrence: About 25,000 people report an ankle sprain per day, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. Kurt Jacobson is a licensed athletic trainer in the Sports Medicine Department in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.Whether you're taking a leisurely hike or playing a fast-paced game of tennis, there's nothing worse than rolling or straining your ankle. Making an educated decision with your health care provider will help you determine if wearing an ankle brace is right for you. Keep in mind wearing an ankle brace is not a 100 percent cure-all or guarantee against injuries. Performing exercises as directed helps ensure a safe return to activity and lessens the likelihood for re-injury. ![]() ![]() Balance, range of motion, strength and endurance are important therapy and training factors that rehabilitation providers specialize in for recovery. Following an ankle injury, your provider may recommend rehabilitation services. Often, when an athlete still is having ankle pain or isn’t back to full function, it is because he or she hasn’t allowed for enough time to properly heal. For maximum effectiveness, ankle braces should fit comfortably in the shoes you wear during an activity, which also helps with brace use compliance.Īfter experiencing an ankle injury, it is important to consider rehabilitation as part of your treatment plan. Ankle braces serve as the external supports to limit certain motions, such as plantar flexion/inversion (movement at the ankle joint that points the foot downward away from the leg and turns the foot inward), and provide awareness of where your ankle joint is in space. These internal supports are important links from your foot all the way up to your hip for ideal performance. Ankle braces are not shown to reduce the severity of ankle, knee or other lower extremity injuries.Īnkle ligaments, muscle and tendon units and the bones of your ankle create the internal supports to keep your ankle safe. Current research indicates ankle brace use in high school-aged athletes lowers the incidence of acute ankle injuries, but not the severity. Using ankle braces to prevent ankle injuries is becoming more common, and I’m often asked by coaches, parents and athletes if wearing an ankle brace is worthwhile. Today, ankle braces are everywhere and available in many different designs, even sport-specific, with the goal of providing additional support following an injury or to prevent an ankle sprain from occurring in the first place. Back in the early 1990s, ankle braces were starting to pop up more often on sports courts and playing fields due to improved designs and being less expensive than having an athlete’s ankle taped. ![]()
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