Volleyball players are known for their dynamic jumps, quick pivots, and intense gameplay, making them particularly susceptible to ankle injuries. Ankle braces have emerged as essential gear for athletes aiming to mitigate this risk. Here’s why ankle braces are crucial for volleyball players.

Why Are Ankle Injuries Common in Volleyball?

Ankle injuries are the most common injury in volleyball, accounting for a significant portion of the sport’s injuries. These typically occur during jumps, especially at the net, when a player lands on another player’s foot, causing the ankle to twist unnaturally. The repetitive nature of the sport, involving constant jumping and quick directional changes, puts additional strain on the ankles, increasing the likelihood of injuries like sprains and strains​ (Performance Health)​​ (Children’s Hospital Colorado)​.

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How Do Ankle Braces Help Prevent These Injuries?

Ankle braces are designed to provide stability and support, reducing the risk of injuries by limiting excessive movement that could lead to ankle sprains. Studies have shown that using ankle braces can significantly decrease both first-time and recurrent ankle injuries. They help maintain proper alignment and absorb the impact of jumps and rapid movements, which are common in volleyball​ (UPMC | Life Changing Medicine)​. One ankle brace, the Ultra Zoom® by Ultra Ankle®, stands out as an industry leader in not only helping to prevent ankle injuries, but also allowing the athlete to maintain their ankle’s natural range of motion and not limiting performance.

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Benefits of Using the Ultra Zoom® Ankle Brace

  1. Injury Prevention: The Ultra Zoom® ankle brace offers a hinged-cuff design that provides superior support without restricting the natural range of motion. This design helps prevent both low and high ankle injuries by stabilizing the ankle during dynamic movements​ (Ivy Rehab)​.
  2. Enhanced Performance: By providing confidence and stability, the Ultra Zoom® brace allows players to perform at their best. Athletes can push their limits on the court without the constant fear of ankle injuries, thus enhancing overall performance. The Ultra Zoom® allows athletes to play better and play more, losing less time to ankle injuries.
  3. Cost-Effectiveness: Investing in a high-quality ankle brace like the Ultra Zoom® is cost-effective compared to the potential medical expenses and lost playtime associated with ankle injuries. This preventive measure is a wise investment for long-term health and performance​ (Volleyball Gear Guide)​.

Do Ankle Braces Affect Knee Health?

Some athletes worry that restricting ankle movement might increase the risk of knee injuries. However, evidence suggests that while ankle braces limit movements that could lead to ankle injuries, they do not increase the risk of knee injuries. Properly designed braces like the Ultra Zoom® provide a balance between support and mobility, ensuring overall lower limb safety​ (Ivy Rehab)​​ (UPMC | Life Changing Medicine)​.

How Does Investing in an Ankle Brace Compare to Potential Medical Costs?

The cost of an ankle brace is minor compared to the potential medical costs incurred from an ankle injury. Ankle injuries can lead to expensive treatments, including physical therapy and surgery, not to mention the lost time from sports and other activities. Using a preventive measure like the Ultra Zoom® ankle brace can save significant costs and ensure that players remain active and healthy​ (Children’s Hospital Colorado)​.

Icing Broken, Fractured or Sprained Foot or Ankle in Cast or Compression Wrap

Conclusion

Ankle braces, particularly the Ultra Zoom®, are essential for volleyball players. They offer injury prevention, enhance performance, and are cost-effective. By incorporating ankle braces into their gear, players can safeguard their health while elevating their game. Embrace the power of prevention and play confidently with the Ultra Zoom® ankle brace.

Why Parents Trust Ultra Ankle Ultra® Zoom Braces for Their Kids: Ensuring Safety with Advanced Ankle Support

As parents, we prioritize our children’s safety and well-being, especially when they are involved in sports and physical activities that may put them at risk for injuries. In these situations, protective gear is a must, and among the many options available, ankle braces are essential. One standout brand parents trust is Ultra Ankle, specifically the Ultra Zoom®, and for good reasons.

  1. Superior Support and Protection:

Ultra Zoom® braces offer robust and high-quality design that provides exceptional ankle support while still allowing for maximum mobility. Designed to stabilize and help prevent the ankle from injuries such as sprains, twists, and rolls, they are a top choice for parents whose kids play high-intensity sports like football, volleyball, or soccer.

  1. Innovative Design:

Ultra Zoom® braces feature advanced technology and an innovative design. The hinged-cuff design limits excessive movement that could lead to high ankle injuries while maintaining enough flexibility for peak performance. This means your young athlete will stay in the game and not on the sideline with an ankle injury. This balance between safety and performance is why many parents opt for Ultra Ankle.

  1. Comfort and Fit:

Ultra Ankle braces are celebrated for their snug fit and comfort, ensuring that kids can wear them for extended periods without feeling restricted or uncomfortable. Ultra Ankle braces, specifically the Ultra Zoom, custom form-fit to the athlete’s foot and ankle through body heat. This is perfect for growing children who need consistent and reliable support over several seasons of play.

  1. Durability:

Durability is a major selling point for Ultra Ankle braces. Made from high-quality materials, these braces can withstand rigorous physical activity, giving parents value for their money and the assurance that their child’s safety gear is up to the task. The Ultra Zoom brace can last up to 3 full seasons depending on use and demands put on the brace.

  1. Ease of Use:

Designed with usability in mind, Ultra Ankle Ultra Zoom braces are easy to put on, adjust, and take off, which is an essential feature for kids who might need to use them independently. This ease of use enhances their appeal among both kids and their parents. This differs from taping or lace-up braces which are both time consuming to put on and take off.

  1. Positive Reviews and Experiences:

Ultra Ankle braces have been positively received by professionals in the sports and health industries and parents alike. A user review from a parent named Sarah states, “My daughter has been using Ultra Ankle braces for her volleyball games, and they have been a game-changer. I no longer worry about her getting injured on the court. Plus, she loves how comfortable they are.” Another parent, John, shared, “I got Ultra Ankle braces for my son who plays soccer. They’ve stood up to some tough games, and he’s been injury-free. Highly recommended for any young athlete.”

These endorsements and positive experiences have helped build trust and a strong reputation for Ultra Ankle braces, making them a preferred choice among parents.

To summarize, parents prefer Ultra Ankle braces for their children because of their advanced design, superior support, durability, and positive reviews. Not only do these braces protect young athletes’ ankles, but they also provide parents with the assurance they need when their children are out on the field or court.

On September 10, 2016 Assumption (Louisville) girls’ volleyball coach Ron Kordes won the 1,000th match of his career in the semifinals of the Ultra Ankle® Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament.

We recently spoke with Coach Kordes, who is also the Club Director of Louisville-based volleyball club KIVA, to congratulate him on his career milestone and also to ask him his professional opinion on ankle injuries and volleyball ankle braces.

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“Which volleyball ankle brace should I choose?”

That’s the question I hear all of the time as an athletic trainer with over 30 years of experience specializing in ankle injuries and ankle injury prevention. For as common as ankle injuries are in today’s sports (over 25,000 ankle injuries occur each day in the U.S.), it surprises me that there isn’t more available information about which ankle brace is the most effective for the various sports and athletes. 

Before you blindly take my opinion or assume that I’m only going to promote my own products and not give an unbiased review, let me share with you why I’m considered by others a leading expert in the ankle bracing field and have been evolving the ankle brace market for 35 years. In 1983, as an athletic training student working with a college football team, I knew there had to be something that supported ankles more effectively  than a century-old, corset style lace-up support.

That thought led me to invent my first ankle brace product and start my own company which quickly grew into a volleyball household name by the mid 90s – that company is called Active Ankle® and is still producing ankle braces to this day. Shortly after leaving Active Ankle® in the late 90s, I realized that my original design concepts could be pushed even further and really revolutionize the ankle bracing industry with product designs it had never seen before. I then started Ultra Ankle® and invented the first hinged-cuff technology ankle brace product line that you can see on our website today.

Since lace-up ankle supports were invented in the 1800s and I happened to invent the technology behind the other leading volleyball ankle braces, produced by Active Ankle® and Ultra Ankle®, I wanted to share my ankle bracing expertise with you and point out the differences in the most common volleyball braces used today.

Comparing Lace-Ups vs. Active Ankle® vs. Ultra Ankle®

As opposed to listing out individual features and dissecting each one at a time, I wanted to instead share this quick reference chart with you comparing:

Lace-up ankle supports – Based off of a corset-style design that uses laces to tightly join a flexible piece of cloth down the front center of the ankle. Common brands for this type of sports brace include: ASO®, Active Ankle®

Hard plastic ankle braces – Utilizes a hinge with foam padded stirrups on each side of the ankle joint connected with a piece of Velcro that wraps around the stirrups. Common brands for this type of sports brace include: Active Ankle®, Shock Doctor®

Soft-shell ankle braces – Composed of a flexible plastic material known as Performathane® lined with custom-fitting PerformaFit® foam. The hinged-cuff design wraps completely around the ankle and utilizes two Velcro straps to secure the top and bottom cuffs. Only brand for this type of sports brace: Ultra Zoom® by Ultra Ankle®

Key Takeaways

While all three types of braces claim to offer significant ankle support, you can see by the chart above that just isn’t the case. Let’s discuss some important key takeaways from this information:

  • The primary reason for wearing an ankle brace is to help prevent ankle injuries, but this is impossible to do when an ankle brace cracks or tears during a game/practice when it’s protection is needed most. If you’ve ever worn an ankle brace that has cracked/torn it’s important to start evaluating other ankle braces that can protect your joint during all high-impact and potentially hazardous situations.
  • High and low ankle sprains are two different types of ankle injuries caused by two different movements of the ankle. High ankle sprains are caused when the joint twists outward and the injury occurs above the ankle while low ankle sprains occur when the ankle turns excessively inward or outward to the side. Hinged-cuff braces are the only braces designed specifically to help prevent both twisting and turning ankle injuries.
  • Both hard plastic and soft shell braces have a hinge design, which means that they don’t restrict your natural ankle range of motion and allow the muscle to work as it’s supposed to without impacting performance.

Just as with other technologies, products that used to be considered state of the art are now outdated and being replaced with more advanced, functional, and effective devices. In the case of sports ankle braces, this is especially true when looking at the evolution of bracing from the century old lace-up to the semi-rigid Active Ankle® braces to the invention of the hinged-cuff Ultra Ankle® braces.

If you’re looking to upgrade to the latest ankle bracing technology and give the hinged-cuff brace a try, check out our Ultra Zoom® product page and read one of the many ankle brace reviews left by our Ultra athletes. If you have questions or hesitations about our brace, take a second to send a quick message to our certified athletic trainers and they would be happy to hear about your ankle bracing concerns and if a hinged-cuff brace would be a great fit for your athletic needs.

Ultra Zoom

Help prevent ankle injuries all season long.

Ultra High-5

Reinforce the ankle after a history of multiple ankle injuries

Ultra CTS

Maximize stabilization to treat acute ankle injuries