If you play soccer for any length of time ankle injuries will catch up to you. Ankle injuries are the most common injury in soccer. But, will wearing an ankle brace affect your ball control, mobility, or even fit in your tight-fitting clear? What you need to know about ankle braces and soccer.
We know soccer players don’t want to wear ankle braces because they say it affects their ball control or restricts their mobility and that may be true the first time you wear an ankle brace. But when you ask soccer players that have worn ankle braces for entire seasons, they say they don’t notice any lack of mobility or negative ball control. Why is that? Because the brace adapts to the athlete’s ankle, and athlete adapts to wearing the brace. The result: ankle injuries are reduced or eliminated. The athlete feels much healthier and can continue to play the sport they love for many years to come.
If you have reoccurring ankle injuries, then you need to wear ankle braces. Otherwise, you will continue to injure your ankle and end up having osteoarthritis by the time you are 50 from all the wear and tear. To help slow down or stop this cycle of injury you have three ankle brace options with different levels of protection. The Ultra 360 lace-up ankle brace with mild/moderate ankle support and moderate mobility, the Ultra High-5 with moderate to moderate-plus ankle support and very good mobility, or the Ultra Zoom performance ankle brace with moderate/maximum ankle support and maximum mobility.
The Ultra 360 is our lowest profile ankle brace that will fit in any style of soccer cleat. The Ultra 360 laces up to lock your ankle in place while the figure-8 straps provide 360º of ankle support to help prevent excessive ankle rolling. The multi-adjustable design allows you to customize your level of support.
The Ultra High-5 is for soccer players who have had a history of ankle injuries and need an ankle brace that will help reinforce unstable ankles as well as aid in the recovery of ankle injuries. The base of the Ultra High-5 will go underneath the insole of the soccer shoe while the feather-light but super-strong materials provide the support to keep the ankle joint stable while on the pitch.
The Ultra Zoom is our premier soccer ankle brace because it’s designed for performance and protection. The Ultra Zoom has a soft flexible shell that uses body heat to form a custom-fit to the ankle for comfortable long-lasting ankle support. The hinge design allows for natural ankle range of motion to enhance performance and keep the muscles strong. The Ultra Zoom is our preferred soccer ankle brace with exceptional durability to last multiple seasons.
Soccer cleats/boots play a vital role in how an ankle brace fits and feels. Depending on the design of your soccer cleat you may need to modify the fitting method of the ankle brace. Start by watching our Recommended Shoes video to understand the various fitting methods. Should you have any fitting questions please reach out to our athletic trainers at [email protected]. We are here to help.
You’ll play better and play more, losing less time to injuries.
Recommended for
Prevention/Sports
0-1 Previous Ankle Injury
Support Level
⚫⚫
Restriction VS Mobility
Restricts excessive ankle turning while maintaining moderate mobility
Reduces Weight Bearing Pain
No
Design
Lace-up with Figure-8 Straps
Shell
Nylon Fabric
Form-Fitting
Yes
Price
$31.95
Recommended for
Prevention/Sports
0-4 Previous Ankle Injuries
Support Level
⚫⚫⚫⚫
Restriction VS Mobility
Restricts excessive ankle turning and twisting while maintaining maximum mobility
Reduces Weight Bearing Pain
No
Design
Hinged-Cuff
Shell
Flexible Performathane
Form-Fitting
Yes
Price
$61.95
“My daughter is a soccer player and over her years of playing she has experienced numerous ankle injuries. In April we purchased our first Ultra Zoom ankle brace for her left foot. Stability increased immediately, and the ankle was able to heal. Our daughter is working diligently with aggressive PT to strengthen her chronic ankles. Just purchased a second brace for her other ankle to aid recovery and help prevent additional wear and tear. Highly recommend this product!”
Susan C.
“My daughter plays travel soccer at a pretty high level. We grew frustrated with the lace-up type braces not providing enough support, and simply wearing out. So far the Ultra Zoom braces have worked out very well and no injuries.”
Stephanie B.
“I received 2 Ultra Zoom ankle braces to wear for soccer. They are so light weight and provide such a great range of motion that I forgot they were on. I love the way they have formed to my ankles. Overall, I will not step on the field without them. I’ve been playing for 40 years and used Active Ankle, and these are the best ankle guards I’ve ever used…period!”
Richard W.
Brian
About Soccer Ankle Braces
For individuals with a history of multiple severe ankle injuries we would recommend our Ultra Zoom ankle brace. The hinged design will allow natural ankle range of motion and the flexible shell will form-fit to your ankle for comfort and ankle support. However, the Ultra Zoom is going to require a low-top soccer cleat with a traditional tongue and laces where you can spread out the laces enough to fit the brace in the shoe. This ankle brace also takes about 6-8 sessions to fully break-in and be comfortable to wear.
Everyone is different, but, in most cases, yes it will. That’s the trade-off when you wear an ankle brace. While it may slightly affect your touch on the ball, it will also protect your ankle so you can continue playing soccer. Most soccer players that wear the Ultra Zoom say that once they got used to wearing the brace they don’t feel comfortable playing without it.
If you are looking for basic ankle protection that will fit easily in your soccer cleat, then we would recommend our Ultra 360 Lace-Up ankle brace. The Ultra 360 Lace-up has two figure-8 straps that will feel like your ankle was professionally taped by an athletic trainer, providing extra support while still fitting comfortably in your cleat.
Do you still have questions about soccer ankle braces? Unsure what you need to wear after twisting your ankle? Our certified athletic trainers are available to answer specific questions about your ankle injury to make a personalized recommendation on which ankle brace or treatment route might be best for you.