Yes, our Ultra CTS ankle brace is not only effective for ankle injuries but osteoarthritis as well.
Ankle sprains are measured in grades. A Grade 1 ankle sprain occurs when the ankle ligament is slightly stretched. With a Grade 2 ankle sprain your ligament is partially torn, and with a Grade 3 ankle sprain your ligament is completely torn. Once you stretch your ankle ligament it will continue to get more and more stretched out with each additional ankle injury, thus increasing the risk of reinjury.
Ankle unloading is important to individuals that have weight bearing pain from a recent injury or people with osteoarthritis. Ankle unloading is the ability of the ankle brace to absorb painful ankle impact from standing or walking that causes weight bearing pain. Our Ultra CTS ankle brace is designed to unload the ankle and reduce weight bearing pain.
No, this is a myth. The right ankle brace should have no residual effect on your ankle strength, performance or proprioception.
Many collegiate and professional athletes wear just one ankle brace all season long without any issues. Although some athletes prefer to wear two braces because they say it feels better.
No, unless your medical professional recommends you do so.
Yes. HCPS billing codes for the braces are:
- Ultra Zoom – L1902
- Ultra High-5 – 1906
- Ultra CTS – L1971
Yes and no. Athletes that play sports with a high incidence of ankle injuries—like volleyball and basketball—should wear preventative ankle bracing since there are many situations during a game where ankle injuries cannot be prevented regardless of ankle strength or athletic ability. With these sports it’s not “if” the injury will occur but “when” it will occur (think coming down on another player’s foot after jumping for a block or rebound). However, in other sports with less ankle injuries, it’s not necessary to wear preventative ankle bracing.
Generally, no. Because you now have the support of an ankle brace you do not need the taping. If you wear our Ultra 360 Lace Up ankle brace and would still like to tape underneath it, that is up to you. However, the tape will provide little added support and will restrict range of motion even further.
We do not recommend taping underneath our Ultra Zoom ankle brace. It has been found the tape between the padding, the sock, and the ankle joint can cause friction which can cause abrasions.
No. There is no scientific evidence ankle braces, even lace ups, weaken ankles. Ankles have to be immobilized in the “neutral position” for weeks at a time, like in a walking boot, to begin to lose strength and become atrophied. Hinged ankle braces like the Ultra Zoom actually keep the ankle joint strong because they allow full up and down natural range of motion necessary to enhance performance and keep the muscles and tendons around the joint strong.