A basic low ankle sprain is when the ankle is rolled inward. This injury is also called an ankle inversion. A high ankle injury is when the ankle is rotated causing a stretching or tearing of the soft tissue above the ankle. High ankle injuries are more severe than low ankle injuries and they take longer to heal.
The Ultra CTS brace has an upper piece that snaps into a low-profile activity brace. When recovering from an acute ankle injury, more stability and support is needed which is why the upper cuff is on the brace. Once more mobility is needed, you can detach the PerformaFit cuff section. By having the PerformaFit upper cuff you’re able to essentially get two ankle braces in one, giving you one brace throughout the entire course of your treatment.
No. Performathane is a material used only in select Ultra Ankle braces. It is an advanced thermoplastic that is flexible and uses body heat to form-fit to your ankle, making Ultra Ankle braces much more durable than typical braces made with hard plastic. Ultra Ankle braces made with Performathane will never crack, break or tear.
As long as your athletic shoe has a traditional tongue-and-laces design, you should be fine. You just may just need to loosen your shoe’s laces enough to fit the brace inside. Some athletic shoes have a single upper that is more like a sleeve than a traditional shoe. These are difficult to use with any type of ankle brace inside, but it can be done. If you’re having issues fitting the ankle braces in your athlete’s shoes, give us a call for some some tips and tricks on how to make it work.
Yes. Many NFL players wear Ultra Ankle braces; however, they typically wear their braces with the addition of an X-Long strap. The L/XL Ultra Zoom and Ultra CTS currently come with X-Long straps. Additional straps are available for purchase.
No. Athletes today, especially at the high school level, may have a large shoe size but small ankle size because their ankle is not fully developed yet. That’s why we recommend strongly using ankle circumference to determine brace size. All Ultra Ankle braces will fit either a left or right ankle.
This is an easy fix. Yes, sometimes the brace will squeak because the advanced resin used in the Performathane® shell needs lubricating. Any type of spray lubricant such as silicone or similar sprayed directly in the rivet/hinge area where the upper and lower components meet will stop the squeaking. You can purchase silicone spray lubricant at any hardware store. We typically use WD-40 Silicone Spray, but any silicone spray will do.
A severe sprain happens when there is a complete tear of your ligament, and it is usually accompanied by swelling, discoloration, weight bearing pain, and some noticeable ankle instability. If 24 to 48 hours after your injury it is too painful to stand or even walk seek medical attention immediately as this instability may cause further damage if untreated properly.
A moderate sprain happens when your ligament is partially torn, and it is usually accompanied by swelling and discoloration. You may also experience weight bearing pain. If 24 to 48 hours after your injury it is too painful to stand or walk, you may require crutches or a semi-rigid ankle brace designed to reduces weight bearing pain.
A mild sprain happens when your ligament is stretched, and it is usually accompanied by some swelling and a little soreness. If you can walk on your ankle 24 to 48 hours after the injury occurs with little to no pain, you probably have a grade 1 sprain.