Ankle braces can be used both as a preventive measure as well as when having an injury to the ankle. The injuries for which an ankle brace be helpful are those type of injuries in which body weight changes from one foot to the other at a rapid pace such as when playing tennis or while running. This may cause the ankle to twist sometimes resulting in sprain of the ankle. Usually professional athletes who are prone to ankle sprains use protection in the form of braces to avoid any injury but sometimes injuries do occur and then these ankle braces are of great help to the athlete. There are various varieties of ankle braces available in the market from which the athlete can choose depending on the injury and severity of it. The best ankle brace for you may be formulated by your physical therapist.
What are the Benefits of Ankle Brace?
Ankle braces are beneficial to an athlete in the following ways:
Ankle Braces Provide Support to Weak Ankle Joints: They provide the necessary support to the ankle when it is needed. An ankle brace is made up of a stretchy material with metallic and plastic supports. There are two ways to wear an ankle brace – one is a pull on ankle brace whereas the other one is a lace up brace. The pull-on braces do not provide much protection as they do not have any metallic fitting in them to protect the ankle. For thorough protection of the ankle, the brace that is used is made up of supports on either side to protect both parts of the ankle.
Ankle Braces Helps Calm Pain & Swelling: The most common of all ankle sprain is the one in which the ankle rolls on the side resulting in excruciating pain. For this type of injury, the patient should wear an ankle brace which has metallic supports on the outer part of the brace. This type of brace provides support to the injured ligaments and tendons and calms down the pain and swelling caused due to the sprain. In case if you have a sprain in which the ankle rolls outwards then you need an ankle brace that has supports on both inside as well as outside parts.
Ankle Brace Helps Avoid Future Injuries: The ankle braces also help people avoid any future injuries to the ankle, especially in people who have sensitive ankles and sprain their ankles more often. Ankle brace wear is relatively affordable and much better option than regular taping method that has been used for quite some time. The ankle braces are designed in such a way that an athlete can wear it at the time of training without much hassle and still protect the ankle. The ankle braces are light and do not affect the skin in any way. Hence for people with a brittle ankle, it is always advisable to consider wearing an ankle brace before embarking on activities which may put the ankle in line of harm.
How Long Should One Wear an Ankle Brace?
Depending on the severity of the injury you may need to wear the ankle brace for up to a period of six weeks or until the pain and swelling comes down and the ankle becomes more stable.
Also Read:
- Cracking Ankles: Why Do My Ankles Crack?
- Dislocated Ankle or Ankle Dislocation: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prognosis, Recovery
- Physical Therapy for Sprained Ankle – 12 Exercises to Recover from Ankle Sprain
- Ankle Joint Fracture: Types, Classification, Symptoms, Treatment, Recovery
- What is a Sprained Ankle or a Twisted Ankle & How is it Treated?
- What is Ankle Impingement: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Recovery Period, Exercises
- What is High Ankle Sprain or Syndesmotic Ankle Sprain: Treatment, Recovery, Exercises, Causes, Symptoms