Best Ankle Brace For Sprained Ankle

by Seem B. Freelancer (Digital Marketing)

Everyone twists their ankle at some point in their life. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society says nearly 25,000 people sprain their ankle every day. A sprained ankle usually happens in an awkward moment when you lose your balance. If the pain doesn’t go away, the area swells or you heard a popping sound when the injury occurred, your sprain may be severe.

A sprained ankle means one of more ligaments on the outer side of the ankle were stretched or torn. If a sprained ankle is not treated properly, it could lead to long-term problems. Treating a sprained ankle begins with following the RICE guidelines.

Rest - Rest the ankle by not putting weight on it. A sprained ankle brace can help with this, as well as crutches. If there is no fracture in the ankle, you can put weight on the sprained ankle.

Ice - Ice the area to reduce swelling and pain. When icing a sprained ankle, do not place the ice directly on the skin, be sure to use a cloth between the skin and ice pack. As a rule of thumb, do not apply ice longer than 20 minutes at a time.

Compression- Compression can help control swelling of the sprained ankle and helps immobilize the ankle to support the ankle injury.

Elevate - Be sure to elevate the foot after the ankle injury has occurred. Depending on the severity of the sprained ankle, elevate the foot above your waist or heart as needed.

Common treatment for ankle sprain is the use of an ankle brace. Ankle braces can also be used after ankle surgery. There are several types of ankle braces. Below we explain the various ankle braces and allow you to decide with your foot doctor which one is the best ankle brace for your condition.

Compression Ankle Braces, also known as compression sleeves, are often used for mild ankle injuries where the stability and structure of the ankle has not been compromised.

Semi-rigid ankle braces provide more support than compression ankle braces, and are often the best ankle brace for mild ankle sprains and swelling.

Lace-up ankle braces are the best ankle braces for athletes. They are the most adjustable ankle braces that restrict the motion of the ankle while allowing for varying degrees of tightness on each point of the foot and ankle.

Hinged ankle braces are used to stop the ankle from rolling side to side. These ankle braces have padded sides, adjustable straps and offer flexibility while fitting inside most shoes. Hinged ankle braces are the best ankle braces for active people who want to stabilize the ankle without stopping the natural hinging motion of the foot and ankle.

For severe ankle sprains and injuries, your foot doctor may recommend Rigid ankle braces, or stirrup ankle braces. These ankle braces feature a hard outer shell to limit the ankle’s range of motion from side to side and up and down. Rigid ankle braces are the best ankle braces to rehabilitate after severe ankle injury, surgery or trauma.