4 Reasons Why Every Athlete Should Wear an Ankle Brace

It's all too common that athletes hurt their ankles while out in the field or on the court. Oftentimes, these injuries occur when an athlete is shifting their weight, cutting to make a play, etc. Most athletes don't realize (1) how often they are making cuts or shifting their body weight, (2) how dangerous this can be, and (3) that there are clear ways to protect themselves.

Ankle braces come into play in these situations. Ankle braces are available in a wide variety of options, and athletes can choose one depending on their injury or the amount of support that they need. The best way for an athlete to choose the appropriate ankle braces for himself is to consult his physician or physical therapist. Here are the ways in which ankle braces prove to be really helpful for athletes:

1. Easing the pain of sprains

Ankle sprains are among the most common ankle injuries for athletes. It is an inversion injury in which the ankle is rolled towards the sole of the foot. Athletes commonly suffer from this type of injury. At this time, wearing an ankle brace having metal or plastic support on the outer face of the ankle supports the ligaments which are injured, and provides the necessary support. Another type of sprain, which is not so common in athletes is an eversion sprain. During this type of injury, an athlete can wear an ankle brace which has support on the inside as well as outside.

2. Post-injury

However, unfortunate it may sound, but athletes undergo multiple injuries throughout their careers, and need to recover soon after to get back on the field again. Braces made for post-injury are very rigid, and are generally air-filled or gel-filled. These braces are used by athletes for easing swelling. These braces are also helpful in preventing inversion and eversion.

3. Helps in avoiding future injuries

As athletes generally keep suffering from multiple ankle sprains, they can wear ankle braces for preventing future injuries. They are not very costly, so they can be used regularly. They should be worn by the athletes whenever they go out to participate in their respective activity, as they help in stabilizing the ankle, and preventing it from rolling over. It should be worn tight enough to support the foot.

4. Providing support when necessary

Ankle Braces are basically made for assisting, and at times protecting, the ankles. They are made up of fabric which can be stretchy or stiff, and they also feature supports made up of metals or plastics. They are of two types, the first being lace-up or Velcro braces, and the second one being pull up braces. Pull up braces do not offer protection, but are used for compression and help in decreasing inflammation in case an athlete suffers an injury.

Injury is a part of daily life for athletes. Neither can they remain in bed for a large period of time, nor can they go onto the field with an injury. In these times ankle braces prove to be a real boon for these athletes.