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What is an ankle brace exactly? A brace is also known as an “orthodontic” support. Braces are generally used to prevent injury as well as speed up the healing process and rehabilitation of ankle-based injuries. They are a lot more effective in injury prevention than using tape as tape can stretch and wear out over multiple uses.
Go to any sporting health store and you will probably find a huge variety of different brands of ankle braces available. There are many models of foot supports available and each caters to specific types of ankle injuries that you might encounter.
These ankle braces are not the same as those you might see people wear when they are recuperating from a broken ankle (the big and bulky ankle casts are such an example). A sports ankle brace is basically designed to be worn over your foot and within your shoe and a good quality one will not only feel comfortable but give you added support and strength to your mid and lower foot, as well as your heel.
Braces such as the ASO ankle brace are the best in the preventative injury market and are a relatively inexpensive solution to people who often suffer from sprains because of weak joints. Professionals in the athletics and sporting fields these days are utilizing these ankle braces, and so are people who require additional support in day to day activities.
So which kind of support braces should you be getting? Are there certain things you should look out for? Well let’s take a look.
First of all, you have to address your requirements. Do you currently have weak ankles or are currently in rehabilitation from a recent sprain? If so, you should first consult a medical expert as to which brace you should get or if you even need one at all.
The next factor to think about is whether you’ll be requiring a brace as a preventative measure or vigorous sporting activities. If you’re only going to be doing some brisk walking or jogging, chances are you might only need a light weight brace offering minimal support rather than the sporting braces that offer a host of other features such as shock absorption.
After you have decided on what your needs are, go down to a retailer and try it on. Only you will know which part of your ankle feels the weakest and by trying on several models, you will quickly find one that fits you like a glove.
A final word of caution: after you get your brace and put it on, give yourself a few days to get accustomed to it as initially it might feel a little uncomfortable. At the same time, go slow and don’t over-exert yourself in your sporting activity until you get a feel for the amount of support you’re going to get from the ankle brace.
