Ankle injuries are among the most commonly experienced injuries in sports, particularly in activities requiring sudden sharp changes in speed or direction. These injuries typically result from forced lateral movement such as when landing awkwardly from a jump or losing your balance when running at high speed. Using a properly designed ankle brace will reduce the risk of these types of ankle injuries. An ankle brace will also help the patient maintain regular activities while recovering from an ankle injury.
The human foot is constructed with several internal supports that hold the bones together in their correct positions. These positions allow the foot to support the weight of the human body in the most effective way possible. These internal supports are the ligaments, tendons, muscles and other tissues that hold the bones together. They are normally sufficient to withstand the forces to which the foot may be subject when walking or standing normally.
However, for athletes and, in particular, athletes in contact sports or sports requiring sharp changes in direction of movement, the foot will regularly experience forces that are greater than normal and that may act in unusual directions. Ankle braces function as “external supports” that supplement the internal supports holding foot bones and other structures in their correct positions.
Three types of foot movement that can produce unusual forces on the foot for which the internal supports may not be enough are ankle inversion/ eversion and plantar flexion.
An ankle inversion causes the foot to point inward and places abnormal stresses on the ligaments on the outside of the ankle (see image on the left). When these ligaments become overstretched or torn in response to this type of movement, you have what medical professionals call an inversion ankle sprain. This is actually the more common type of sprain. It can happen either during sporting activity or while performing everyday activities such as clearing snow or walking on an icy pavement.
Under ankle eversion, the foot turns outward and unusual stress in placed on the ligaments on the inside of the foot. Tearing or overstretching these ligaments in response to such a movement results in an eversion ankle sprain. This type of injury tends to mainly happen to serious athletes.
Under plantar flexion, the foot points downward away from the leg. This movement places unusual stresses on the ligaments on the top of the foot.
Ankle braces serve to limit ankle inversion or eversion movements as well as plantar flexion.As a result, the wearer of such a brace has less risk of damaging foot ligaments as a result of these movements. For more information on how an ankle brace can be of use in preventing such injuries, please read our post on the benefits of using an ankle brace for sprains.
When choosing your brace, you can select from a wide range of designs such as advanced or basic ankle supports, wraparound braces or rigid ankle braces. Each has a particular purpose, as explained below:
In practice, many of the ankle braces available on the market are actually hybrid designs that incorporate features of two or more of the categories above.
When choosing an ankle brace, we can offer the following general advice:
A healthcare professional will be able to advise on which of these situations applies to his or her patient.
Our selection of ankle braces is presented below. For information on how a brace can help an avid runner, please read our post on how an ankle brace for running can aid injury recovery. If you are an athlete in another sport and would like to know more about how an ankle brace can help you, you can read our post on the benefits of an ankle brace for athletes.
If you are not actively involved in sports but would like to understand how a brace can be of benefit during everyday activities, please read our post on the reasons to wear an ankle brace in Toronto.
Should you have any questions after reading these posts, our customer service personnel will be only too pleased to assist.
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Fine line treatment for posterior tibial tendonitis and peroneal tendonitis. Customizable varus/valgus heel disks and arch height. Designed by a board of certified foot and ankle specialists. Viable alternative to expensive custom ankle braces.
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Enjoy firm yet comfortable support for stiff, weak or sore ankles wearing the Mueller Sports Medicine Elastic Ankle Support. Fits either ankle.
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With its high quality elastic construction and Figure-6 strap system, the McDavid Elite Engineered Elastic Ankle Brace offers a combination of support and comfort that will amaze your patients.
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The LP Extreme Ankle Support is made from LP Support’s innovative CoolPrene® material and is an excellent choice to relieve pain, swelling and stiffness and speeds recovery from an ankle injury. It also has an open heel design for comfort and easy application.
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The Bio Skin Figure 8 Wrap with the Standard Ankle Skin support is an economical way to control swelling and support ankles with minor instability.
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The Mueller Gel Ankle Brace is designed to provide maximum support plus cold therapy to injured ankles to speed recovery & allow for an early return to action.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Ankle Brace With Straps has extra-long dynamic criss-cross figure-8 straps and a side heel-lock with side stirrup straps.
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Mueller’s Premium Soft Shell Ankle Brace With Straps is lightweight, neoprene free and features a unique criss-cross strapping system to stabilize the ankle. It also uses their exclusive HydraCinn construction with in-built anti microbial protection against stains and odours.
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The McDavid HyperBlend Ankle Sleeve features McDavid’s innovative HyperBlend™ technology to produce an ankle sleeve 30% lighter than other sleeves and designed to treat the pain of ankle tendonitis or ankle arthritis.
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The Mueller Green Adjustable Ankle Support features adjustable tension straps and soft, non-petroleum based neoprene blend to retain body heat and provide soothing warmth to help relieve pain and keep your ankle flexible.
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The Mueller HG80 Hard Shell Ankle Brace is ultra comfortable, lightweight and neoprene free, thanks to its use of Mueller-exclusive HydraCinn fabric, a high-performance, moisture-wicking material with an anti-microbial barrier.
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Mueller’s Soft Ankle Brace With Straps is designed to simulate the effects of applying athletic tape to your ankle so that you have the low profile and comfortable feel of taping but without the expense and hassle.
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The Mueller Omniforce Ankle Support is an ankle sleeve with a premium flat knit construction that allows it to simultaneously provide lightweight compression and support with high levels of breathability and comfort. Anti-microbial Construction, built in gel pads and a contoured design allows this ankle to provide a hard to beat combination of compression, support and comfort. The brace uses separate designs for right and left for additional user comfort, Sold in sizes Small, Medium, Large and X-Large.
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The McDavid Phantom Ankle Brace will surprise you with its stability, convenience and superb fit, courtesy of MDavid’s exclusive rear entry design and ground breaking lace free support.
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The McDavid Runners’ Therapy Achilles Sleeve features a dual compression anatomical design that enhances pain relief, recovery and support.
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The Bio Skin Standard Ankle Skin is an all-purpose ankle support that provides compression, added stability and increased proprioception.
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With an innovative step through rear entry design and a thin wrap compression top strap, the McDavid Stealth Cleat Ankle Brace aims to offer the ultimate in rock solid stability, range of motion and fitting comfort among low profile ankle braces.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine The ONE Ankle Brace is designed to be extremely light and low-profile. Offering all the traditional benefits of taping, but with all adjustable flexibility of a soft strap brace. Now replaced by the Mueller Sports Medicine The ONE Ankle Brace Premium.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine The One Ankle Brace Premium features a speed lacing system, figure 8 strapping pattern and a Comfort Band surrounding the plantar fascia and arch areas. Replaces the MU4664x ankle brace (The One Ankle Brace).
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For Ankle Sprains, PTTD, and Plantar Fasciitis
The Bio Skin TriLok has unparalleled versatility, delivering targeted unloading to medial and lateral structures.
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The Mueller wraparound ankle support is a comfort oriented ankle orthotic designed to provide warmth and support to weak, injured or arthritic ankle joints.
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The LP X-Tremus Ankle Support includes a Plantar Magic Power Band, Double-Eight Stable Contoured Structure, durable Fitting Knit and a J-shape silicone pad around the heel cord to offer a superlative combination of comfort, stability and injury protection.
