Ankle injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the U.S., especially for athletes and active individuals. Research shows that ankle sprains account for 16%–40% of all sports-related injuries, making them one of the most frequent reasons athletes miss practice, competition, or training time.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), ankle sprains that do not heal properly—or go untreated—significantly increase the risk of long-term ankle instability and degenerative joint changes.
If you’ve experienced ankle pain or sprains before, you may want to review these related resources:
➡️ Ankle Sprains: https://www.ultraankle.com/ankle-injuries-conditions/ankle-sprains/
➡️ High Ankle Sprains: https://www.ultraankle.com/ankle-injuries-conditions/high-ankle-sprains/
➡️ Ankle Instability: https://www.ultraankle.com/ankle-injuries-conditions/ankle-pain-and-instability/
Once you experience an ankle sprain, the risk of re-injury increases significantly—especially without proper rehabilitation and support.
Up to 40% of individuals develop chronic ankle instability after a first-time sprain
24% of people re-sprain their ankle within 3 months of the initial injury
55% report persistent instability one year after their first sprain
Sources: National Library of Medicine (PMC), ScienceDirect
These statistics highlight how essential prevention strategies are for avoiding future injuries and long-term ankle damage.
Compression sleeves, wraps, or soft neoprene supports are often mistaken for ankle braces—but they do not prevent ankle injuries or meaningfully reduce re-sprain risk.
Provide mild warmth
Improve circulation
Offer light compression
Restrict harmful ankle rolling
Offer mechanical support
Reduce inversion/eversion movement
Protect ligaments from strain
Prevent re-sprains
Compression sleeves are not considered ankle braces. They do not stabilize the ankle joint or provide the structure needed to prevent dangerous rolling motions.
For true ankle injury prevention, a lace-up or hinged brace is required.
Focus on strengthening the peroneal muscles, calves, and intrinsic foot muscles to support joint stability.
Single-leg stance, wobble board training, and dynamic balance drills help restore neuromuscular control—one of the most important factors in preventing future sprains.
Choose shoes with proper ankle coverage, secure lacing, and stable soles—especially for court or field sports.
Avoid sudden cutting, pivoting, or uneven terrain if recovering from previous injury.
The right ankle brace is one of the most effective and proven methods for reducing the risk of ankle sprains—especially for athletes.
The Ultra 360 Lace-Up ankle brace is ideal for athletes and active individuals who have experienced three or fewer ankle injuries. This brace provides moderate support with moderate mobility, making it perfect for those who need additional reinforcement but still want flexibility.
Combines uniform compression with mild mechanical support
Helps reduce excessive ankle motion that leads to sprains
Fits comfortably inside athletic shoes
Great for athletes beginning a prevention program
Use the Ultra 360 to reinforce the ankle before instability becomes chronic.
The Ultra Zoom hinged ankle brace is the optimal injury-prevention solution for athletes and active people who have had four or more previous ankle sprains or experience frequent ankle rolling.
This brace offers maximum support with maximum mobility, using a hinged-cuff design that allows natural movement while restricting dangerous side-to-side rolling.
Hinged design preserves natural up-and-down ankle motion
Provides strong protection during cutting, landing, or pivoting
Controls harmful inversion/eversion
Reduces the likelihood of re-sprain in high-risk individuals
Ideal for volleyball, basketball, football, soccer, pickleball, tennis, and trail activities
If you are actively involved in sports and have a history of ankle injuries, the Ultra Zoom is the most reliable option for long-term prevention.
Preventive bracing is recommended if you:
Have had one or more previous ankle sprains
Roll your ankle frequently
Play a sport involving cutting, jumping, or rapid direction changes
Train on uneven surfaces
Experience weakness or lack of stability during activity
Bracing is especially important during practice—where most ankle injuries occur.
Ankle sprains account for 16%–40% of all sports injuries, making them one of the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries.
Yes. Lace-up or hinged braces reduce excessive ankle motion and significantly lower the risk of sprains and re-sprains.
No. Sleeves provide compression but no mechanical stability, so they cannot prevent rolling or protect ligaments.
Ultra 360 → For ≤ 3 previous sprains
Ultra Zoom → For 4+ previous sprains or chronic instability
Yes, especially those with prior injuries. Bracing during training is crucial because most injuries happen during practice.
No. Research shows bracing does not weaken the ankle or reduce muscle activation.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) – Sprained Ankle Overview
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/sprained-ankle/
National Library of Medicine (PMC) – Ankle Sprain Epidemiology
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7745493/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
National Library of Medicine (PMC) – Chronic Ankle Instability Data
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6602396/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
ScienceDirect – Re-Sprain Recurrence Statistics
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955312701091?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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.
Treat & Prevent
Adjustable Support with Figure-8 Straps to Reduce Ankle Pain and Speed Recovery.
APPLICATIONS
Prevention/Sports
3 or Less Ankle Injuries
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
Recover & Protect
Support and Stability that Promotes Faster Healing and Recovery with Protected Movement.
APPLICATIONS
Recovery/Prevention/Sports
4 or More 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
$59.95
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.
Many people believe that using ankle braces can lead to weakened muscles and dependency on the product. The concern is that ankle braces restrict movement, causing the muscles to become less active and eventually atrophy. However, this belief is not supported by scientific evidence. Read our Blog Post on Why Ankle Braces Do Not Weaken the Ankle Joint for more information.
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.