Ankle support recommendations?
Discussion
Another morning after the 5-a-side the night before... and I here I sit contemplating the swelling and pain twixt lower legs and feet.
My ankles are pathetic. They will roll when walking down a flat pavement - so why play footie you might ask.
Well, a year ago my thinking was that you can train muscles, you can train your cardiovascular system...
But unless anyone can tell me otherwise though, I have come to the conclusion that you can't train weak joints. Problem is that I've come to enjoy the weekly kickabout so it's time for some technology
What do PHers recommend then?
I've seen various neoprene type supports, some which look to provide virtually nil support and some which look a little more robust. These sometimes seem to feature zips or additional webbing - but all of this needs to fit inside a footie boot. Next up the ladder looks to be various lace-up type systems in the £25+ category.
Where do I start?
tricky one this - depends which part of your ankle is weak...
I've broken my left ankle 3 times playing sport. I have a fairly tight neoprene support that works pretty well - cost about £15 4/5 years ago, i think. Probably need a new one, thinking about it. Anyway, would strongly recommend goping to a sports physio, and asking them what they think - they usually have loads of this cr*p for sale, and will be able to advise you on the best one for your injury.
The other thing to do is to try to build up the ligaments / muscle etc around the ankle. If you have problems with it, it's not strong enough. Yeah, I know they never go back to how they were before (I was an international rower but had to give up, and 2 friends now have Olympic Golds - grrr!), but it's well worth doing some regular exercises that target the right bits. I have used a long piece of rubber elsatic (no jokes please!) for several years. It's made of the same stuff as those swimming caps that girlies wear, and is in a long rectangular shape. You tie it round table legs etc, and use it to add resistance to ankle movement - a sports physio can show you how. There are lots of thinsg you can do with it (again, no jokes please!).
It's best to build up the ankle than to try to stablise what is already there and is known to be weak, IMO. Clearly, you'll need a support as well, but it would be worth 5 mins of your time every day, buidling the fecker up, too. That's what I did and, touch wood, I've been free from injury for a couple of years now. Although it has just started to hurt on the running machine. Hmmm.
Hope this is of some use.
I've broken my left ankle 3 times playing sport. I have a fairly tight neoprene support that works pretty well - cost about £15 4/5 years ago, i think. Probably need a new one, thinking about it. Anyway, would strongly recommend goping to a sports physio, and asking them what they think - they usually have loads of this cr*p for sale, and will be able to advise you on the best one for your injury.
The other thing to do is to try to build up the ligaments / muscle etc around the ankle. If you have problems with it, it's not strong enough. Yeah, I know they never go back to how they were before (I was an international rower but had to give up, and 2 friends now have Olympic Golds - grrr!), but it's well worth doing some regular exercises that target the right bits. I have used a long piece of rubber elsatic (no jokes please!) for several years. It's made of the same stuff as those swimming caps that girlies wear, and is in a long rectangular shape. You tie it round table legs etc, and use it to add resistance to ankle movement - a sports physio can show you how. There are lots of thinsg you can do with it (again, no jokes please!).
It's best to build up the ankle than to try to stablise what is already there and is known to be weak, IMO. Clearly, you'll need a support as well, but it would be worth 5 mins of your time every day, buidling the fecker up, too. That's what I did and, touch wood, I've been free from injury for a couple of years now. Although it has just started to hurt on the running machine. Hmmm.
Hope this is of some use.
From professional and personal experience I'd say these are the best on the market: www.aircast.com/products/product.htm?pid=9&pgid=87D74F9A-0415-4B4B-903A-B574CC63F9F9&rnd=157088245
But... they're not going to address the problem, just give your ankles some support. Have you done anything to strengthen your ankle and improve your ankle control (proprioception exercises)?
>>>Edit: Wot he said
>> Edited by mechsympathy on Thursday 23 December 10:42
But... they're not going to address the problem, just give your ankles some support. Have you done anything to strengthen your ankle and improve your ankle control (proprioception exercises)?
>>>Edit: Wot he said
>> Edited by mechsympathy on Thursday 23 December 10:42
I agree with Bouffy, I used to have a lot of problems with one ankle in particular until a sports physio took one look at me said my foot was on wonky and gave me some extra stretches to do. Havent had a problem since. Football is about the worst sport you can do for ankles, great fun though!
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