Keep Your Ankles From Hurting Using Ankle Brace for Football

Sports like running, tennis, and soccer greatly increase the risk of foot and ankle problems. In football, a straight hit on the lower leg can result in serious injury. Due to the physical nature of soccer, collision accidents from hitting another player account for 30% of all football injuries.

Twenty percent to thirty percent of soccer injuries are to the ankle, with sprains being the most prevalent type of injury. Soccer players can sustain the "turf toe" injury if they run into something or plant their cleats incorrectly.

An ankle brace for football can help your ankle to stay healthy and keep it aligned during activities such as running, football, basketball, and many others.

Common ankle injuries when playing football

Lateral ligament injury

The foot rolls inwards after a misstep or a tackle, a common cause of this injury. It is more likely that the damage will be severe if the foot is plantar-flexed at contact. An abrupt change in direction is a common cause of sprains, ranging from mild to severe and even leading to a full rupture.

Medial Ankle Sprain

Injuries to the medial ligament are less prevalent because it takes more effort to roll the ankle in that way. To sustain a medial ankle sprain, you would need to experience either an external factor impacting the exterior of your ankle or a very awkward fall or mishap.

High ankle sprain

Spraining the syndesmosis, or ligament connecting the fibula and tibia, the two major bones in your shin constitutes a high ankle sprain. They typically involve the lower ankle ligaments and are caused by twisting the ankle.

A sprain typically recovers in four weeks. Even though a high ankle sprain may heal by itself within six to twelve weeks, it usually suggests a more serious injury with greater ligament damage.

Osteochondral lesions

Ankle sprains cause damage to the cartilage lining the joint because of the repeated rubbing that occurs when the joint surfaces collide. A localized bruise develops, the cartilage softens, and microcrack forms on the surface. As the condition worsens, an osteochondral lesion (a cyst formed in the bone beneath the cartilage surface) may emerge, and the cartilage above it may become dislodged.

Common ways to prevent injury in football

Strengthen the lower limbs

Perform some leg strengthening exercises off the field. By doing so, you should ensure that your primary muscle groups are ready to handle the rigors of a football game. Possible examples of such exercises are calf raises, lunges, squats, and deadlifts.

It's important to keep moving even when the season is over.

If you want to remain in good shape, you don't need to play football all year long. However, you should still run, swim, and lift weights. You risk sustaining an injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that increase if you don't exercise regularly.

Warm-up

Warming up before a game will help your body get ready for exercise and lower the likelihood of injury, and it only takes a few minutes. In addition to jogging, try dynamic stretching (stretching as you move, including knees up and leg swings) to improve muscle circulation. Include drills with a ball that need a change in speed and direction.

Start slow and build up your speed.

There is a higher risk of injury if you go all out from the get-go of the football season before the muscles and body have had a chance to acclimate to the different strains of the activity. Work up to higher levels of exertion and for longer periods.

Cool down

Reduce your chance of further damage by taking a few minutes to calm down after a game. Ten minutes should be spent performing light cardio and stretching your legs and feet.

Hydrate

Getting even slightly dehydrated can hurt performance in sports. If you haven't drunk enough, your body won't be able to cool itself efficiently through evaporation and sweat.

Taping VS Ankle Brace for Football

Taping is a temporary fix for what could be an ongoing issue. Although athletic tape can be used as a temporary measure, it is most effective when applied to strengthen a joint that has already fully healed. Even while athletic braces are a more permanent solution to sports injuries, they are not without drawbacks, just like tape.

Studies have indicated that an ankle brace for football offers marginally more support than tape but that either method is preferable to nothing. Some ankle injuries can be avoided by just wearing high-top sneakers rather than low-top ones, while another study indicated that high-tops plus taping reduced ankle injuries by more than 50% compared to low-tops plus taping.

Benefits of wearing an ankle brace for football

Due to the nature of the game, which necessitates constant cutting, kicking, and changing of direction, as well as physical contact with other players, soccer players frequently suffer sprains to their ankles. A properly fitted ankle brace for football can aid in treating or preventing an ankle injury on the field by limiting the range of motion in certain situations.

You can avoid medial and lateral ankle sprains with ankle brace for football that include stiff bilateral hinges. The motion range is drastically reduced in the regions that could cause harm thanks to the hinges.

An ankle brace that fastens with laces serves the same purpose. An ankle brace like this provides support and stability while also limiting motion. They're not very sturdy and can't bear as much weight in the middle or on the sides. One major benefit of these ankle braces for injured soccer players is that you may hide them under shoes during practice.

Chronic problems, such as plantar fasciitis or tendonitis, are ideal for treatment with ankle compression socks and sleeves. You can significantly reduce the pain and swelling associated with these disorders by wearing one of these braces. Like lace-up braces, these supports are versatile enough to be worn daily by athletes with any shoe.

FAQ about wearing an ankle brace

Should you wear a sock under an ankle brace?

If you wear an orthosis or brace on your feet, ankles or knees, you need to wear some sort of sock underneath it. The sock protects your skin, keeps your skin dry and helps prevent blisters or sores.

How many hours a day should you wear an ankle brace?

Begin by wearing the brace two times for one hour the first day. Add one hour to each wearing period until you are comfortable wearing the brace full time during the day and do not experience any red marks or pressure sores on the skin.

Wearing a brace, though, has me worried about the potential for my ankle to become weaker. Can it happen?

Theoretically, only wraparound or cloth lace-up ankle braces impede the joint's natural motion range and weaken your ankle. Experts no longer recommend that athletes use lace-up braces because they bind up your joint and limit the natural flexibility of the ankles. These ultra ankle braces are hinged to offer the complete, natural movement range up and down that is essential for performance and muscle maintenance.