Walker or walk-on, starter or star, ankle injuries threaten everyone.
While no injury prevention method is 100% guaranteed, there are some steps you can take to help prevent or reduce the severity of an ankle injury if one were to occur. The most common way to help prevent an ankle injury is by wearing a preventative ankle brace that is comfortable enough to wear every practice and game but durable enough to last for multiple seasons.
When it comes to many sports, most athletes won’t regularly wear an ankle brace until they get hurt or begin to experience ankle instability from years of repeat injuries. You’re more likely to sprain your ankle when you’re walking on uneven terrain or do a sport that is characterized by running, cutting movements, and jumping, such as basketball, football, tennis, and volleyball. The research also shows that your risk of injuring your ankle once more is much higher when you’ve had a previous ankle sprain. Using an ankle brace can significantly reduce your risk of both first-time and recurring ankle sprains, especially when doing sports. It does this by preventing extreme ankle movements. Or, in other words, it stops the ankle from moving far enough to cause the ligaments, muscles, or joint to strain (SP).
Whether you are hoping to stop an ankle injury from happening at work or during a game , there are a few things you need to know before choosing a preventative ankle brace.
Traditionally hinged ankle braces are constructed from stiff rigid plastic that many players find too uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time, too big/bulky to fit in their shoes, and unreliable, constantly cracking and breaking. Ultra Ankle braces are made entirely of a new type of thermoplastic that is flexible enough to provide all day comfort while still being strong enough to help prevent any excessive movement that’s going to cause an ankle injury. With Ultra Ankle’s hinged-cuff braces, you’re able to stop worrying about injuring your ankle so that you can focus on what matters most: living life without limits.
Play better and play more, losing less time to injuries.
And an estimated 28% of these ankle injuries result from re-injuries. Every time you get an ankle sprain or suffer from a repeated ankle injury the ligaments in your joint are stretched out more and more, increasing your chance for yet another injury in the future.
Athletes often suffer from ankle sprains repeatedly. That’s why prevention is so critical for young athletes. Ankle injuries in your youth may develop into much more severe joint issues and chronic ankle instability later in life.
Some youth sports—like basketball, volleyball, and soccer—result in a greater number of ankle injuries than others due to the nature of play during the gameIn fact, 45% of high school volleyball players will injure their ankle at least once during the sports season, 70% of varsity basketball players will suffer from at least one ankle sprain a year, and 85% of youth soccer injuries are recorded as ankle sprains.
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
The Best Ankle Brace for Injury Prevention
The Ultra Zoom features a hinged-cuff design that doesn’t restrict performance. This ankle brace forms to the shape of your ankle making it comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time. For athletes, we recommend wearing the Ultra Zoom during any activity, practice or game to help prevent ankle injuries or lessen the severity should an injury occur.
The Ultra High-5 is typically recommended for older athletes or those athletes who have a history of multiple ankle injuries and require a more supportive ankle brace to stabilize their ankle or non-athletes who struggle with putting on or taking off ankle braces.
The Ultra CTS is for someone who currently has an ankle injury. In general, it is not recommended for use as a preventative ankle brace. However, some football players returning from a serious ankle injury or surgery wear the Ultra CTS as a preventative brace.
“I don’t really have any ankle injuries but wear these as a preventative measure. I am older, but still quite active, so I know it doesn’t take much for me to have an ankle injury. I have already owned Active Ankle braces, but they kept breaking. These Zoom’s look much better built, yet flexible where needed and are very comfortable. I wear them now for volleyball and indoor running sports (basketball, floor hockey). This summer I will be wearing them for Ultimate Frisbee and Spike Ball.”
Bobby H.
“My daughter moved from setter to outside hitter so we really wanted to get her in a good set of ankle braces since she is now more vulnerable. We are very pleased with the Ultra Zoom braces we purchased. She wore them around the house one evening to help warm them up and break them in, and she never had a comfort or fit issue. It has amped up her confidence knowing she doesn’t have to worry about her ankles or be distracted by uncomfortable braces that constantly need adjusting. In fact, players on her team are admiring her braces, as most of them seem to be wearing bulky Active Ankle or lace ups.”
Bobby T.
About Ankle Injury Prevention
No clinical studies available show wearing ankle braces cause knee injuries. In order to transfer enough torque from the ankle to the knee you would need to wear something like a ski boot, which has virtually zero ankle mobility. Ultra Ankle braces feature a hinge that allows full up and down ankle range of motion, only restricting any excessive movement that might cause an injury.
Not all ankle braces are equal when it comes to evaluating their impact on the muscles around the ankle. Studies have shown that that lace-up style ankle braces limit up and down ankle range of motion, reduce muscle strength, power and endurance. Any hinged brace that allows the ankle joint to function in its natural range of motion will continue to help the muscles move and stay strong.
In most cases, if you have strong ankles and aren’t constantly putting your ankles at risk, then preventative ankle bracing isn’t for you. However, preventative braces are a good idea if you play a sport with a high incidence of ankle injuries like volleyball or basketball. Athletes who play these sports almost always suffer ankle injuries due to jumping and landing on an opposing player foot and turning your ankle.
No amount of strength can prevent an ankle injury when you jump up and come down and land on another player’s foot, rolling or twisting your ankle in the process. While having a stronger ankle may help shorten your rehabilitation time post-injury, these incidents happen in a split second and your muscles don’t have enough time to react and prevent them on their own.
Do you still have questions about volleyball ankle braces or what you need to wear after twisting your ankle? Our certified athletic trainers are available to answer specific questions about your ankle injury and history and make a personalized recommendation on which ankle brace or treatment route might be best for you.