A high ankle sprain occurs when your foot or ankle externally rotates and stretches the tissue holding your two lower leg bones (tibia & fibula) together. This injury occurs above the ankle joint which is why it has the name “high ankle” injury. The medical term for this type of injury is called a syndesmotic ankle injury, and it causes more pain and requires a longer rehabilitation period when compared to a low ankle injury.
A low ankle sprain is the most common ankle injury, accounting for nearly 80% of all ankle injuries. It happens when your ankle rolls inward, stretching the ligaments that connect the bones on the outside of your ankle joint. The medical term for this type of injury is called an inversion ankle sprain. The alternative to an inversion sprain is an eversion sprain. This happens when your ankle rolls outward, stretching the inside ligaments that connect the bones of your ankle joint.
When choosing the right ankle brace, there is always a trade-off in terms of how much support do you need versus how much mobility you want. Everyone wants the most support possible with unlimited mobility, but you can’t have both.
Ultra Ankle braces come as close as possible to providing exceptional ankle stability with unlimited up and down ankle motion for mobility. So, which ankle brace do we recommend for you? It depends on your current ankle condition, injury history, and lifestyle. You can either compare our three braces and evaluate for yourself, or send one of our athletic trainers a message for a personalized recommendation.
An ankle sprain refers to the stretching or tearing of the ligaments that surround the ankle joint to provide stability. An ankle strain refers to the muscles around the ankle that allow us to walk, run, and jump.
cing after injury is a standard practice in sports medicine because it helps to decrease swelling and lessens the extent of an ankle injury. A general rule for the first 24 to 48 hours after injury is to keep ice on it for 30 minutes and then off for 30 minutes. After that, icing is typically only used before, after, and during rehabilitation exercises as well as after any activity. Heat is rarely used on ankle injuries unless you are trying to reduce joint stiffness before activity.
Yes. The first few times you wear your brace you may have to loosen the laces enough so the brace can fit in your shoe. Remember, the Ultra Zoom requires a break-in period of approximately two to four hours of activity before its soft shell will form-fit to your ankle. After this period, your Ultra Zoom brace will fit more easily into your shoe and be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
No. The best way to choose the appropriate ankle brace size is by measuring the circumference of your ankle. You might wear a larger shoe size, but have a small ankle circumference which is why using your shoe size is not an accurate way to determine your brace size.
In theory, the only braces that could potentially weaken your ankle are those that limit your joint’s natural range of motion, such as a wraparound or fabric lace-up ankle brace. Lace-up braces bind up your joint and restrict the natural movement your ankles need to keep your muscles strong.
With all of our braces, it is recommend that you wear athletic socks long enough to rise above the top of the ankle brace.
Older braces will start to become uncomfortable because the cushioning properties of the padding system as well as the straps are worn out from normal wear and tear. Replacement straps and pads are available for purchase as needed.
If your brace has been used for over two years it may need replacing. In most cases as the brace ages the hinge area will begin to loosen and reduce the overall amount of support provided by the brace.
To test the hinge in your brace, place one hand on the top of the brace and the other hand on the bottom of the brace and push and pull the brace back and forth. If it seems like there is a lot of movement in the hinge area, then replacing the brace is recommended to regain stability.