3 Types of Ankle Support

Ankle supports can stabilize, brace, and limit motion of the ankle. They provide joint protection for people with injured, weak, or arthritic ankles. Some people use these supports during sports for foot injury prevention. There are many different enclosures, colors, materials, and designs used for ankle supports so you should try and find one that best fits your needs and style. Choosing an ankle support will largely depend on the type of injury you have. Maximum support braces, moderate support braces, and simple bandages are the most common supports.

Protect Your Ankle Well
The ankle is composed of talus bones, fibula, and the tibia. Three ligaments are attached to those bones: the posterior and anterior, the calcaneo fibular ligament, and the talo fibular ligaments. Together these ligaments and bones make up the ankle joint. The ligaments allow your ankle to move and provide stability.

Overstretching the ligament may result in a tearing movement known as a sprain. The severity of a sprain is often categorized by the damage on the ligament.

An elastic ankle support bandage is used to compress the ankle area without restricting its movement. This device may come in the form of a pull on sock or long bandage. Often used for Grade 1 sprains or arthritis pain, this ankle support brace offers stability, comfort, and flexibility. It can also be worn by individuals with weak joints to prevent injury.

Ankle Support With Braces
Moderate support braces, like the lace up ankle support, are for ligament injuries or Grade 2 sprains. These injuries can result in swelling, stiffness, and pain when walking. The moderate support provides a rigid panel to give the ankle stability. Lacing or Velcro is used to guarantee an effective and customized fit.

A maximum support brace is only used for serious injuries such as ligament ruptures or Grade 3 sprains. The individual may not be able to rotate their ankle and may experience acute swelling and severe pain. This support works by compressing the area around the ankle to decrease the pain through ambulation. The ankle is prevented from rotating outward or inward, keeping the ligaments from stretching further. Once the muscles have begun to heal, a moderate or elastic brace can be worn to provide continual support.