Jun. 30, 2025
Health & Medical
Ankles are delicate joints, and injuries to them are common at all ages–from elementary school soccer players to the elderly with arthritis. Ankle support can help prevent injury or help you recover from an injury faster and give you the mental confidence needed to get back on your feet. Below, we explain the three benefits of ankle supports and how to buy the right ankle support for you.
So what are the benefits of an ankle support besides, well, support? Here are three more reasons you might want to consider an ankle brace:
While not quite as complicated as your hands, your ankle is still comprised of seven tarsal bones. This configuration means that your ankles are great at flexing and moving, sometimes a little too much so. Your ankles have to bear the weight of nearly your entire body, which makes them prone to sprains and other injuries. Ankle support helps hold everything in place and reduces your chances of accidentally turning your joints.
Maybe it’s too late for injury prevention, and you’ve already gotten a sprained ankle. Even so, ankle support can still help by reducing swelling and alleviating pain in the process. An ankle brace will also provide joint extra support as you heal up and keep you from exacerbating your symptoms or re-injuring it.
Many foot conditions can limit your mobility, including arthritis, sprains, ankle pain, inflammation, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. Wearing an ankle support can help you regain some of your old mobility by alleviating your symptoms or preventing a flare-up. Ankle support can also give you the mental confidence you need to stop worrying about falls every time you leave the house.
You’re convinced that you need to buy an ankle brace, so now what? Once you talk to your doctor and ask what option is best for you, here are four steps to follow that will make buying your brace a breeze.
People buy ankle supports for all sorts of reasons, whether they’re struggling with foot pain or trying to prevent athletic accidents. Ask yourself why you need to get an ankle brace and let that guide your decision. If you need an ankle brace for multiple situations—such as vigorous workouts and everyday walking—you might need to consider purchasing one for each type of activity. For example, in the above scenario, you might want a heavy-duty hinged brace for working out and a lighter ankle support sock for simply walking around the house.
Are you planning to wear the ankle supports for just an hour or two at a time, or for the entire day? If you need to wear the brace for hours without taking it off, it’s especially important to choose a material that will allow your skin to breathe and that will wick away sweat. Check the label to see what material the brace is made of. Also, try stretching the brace to see how quickly it bounces back. You don’t want a brace that will stretch out during the day because you won’t get the support you need.
We already covered the main ankle support types in a previous blog, but here’s a quick refresher:
Many ankle braces are based on shoe size, so take your measurements before buying. If you picked the right size but it still feels uncomfortable, adjust the brace by making it either tighter or looser, or by wearing a different sock or shoe with it. Once you’ve gotten everything adjusted, you should feel like the brace is secure enough to give you support, but not so tight that you’re in pain or that it’s cutting off your circulation.
If you’re in the market for ankle support but aren’t sure which one to choose, customer service representatives at Ames Walker is always happy to help guide you through your decision.
About the Author
Kaki Zell - Vice President of Sales, Marketing, eCommerce at Legs-4-Life LLC Kaki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She’s been working in the medical device industry for over 11 years and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greensboro Science Center.
Written April | Page Last Updated January
Sources
Britannica. “Tarsal Bone” https://www.britannica.com/science/tarsal
We normally associate ankle injuries with athletes during sports: where there is running and changing directions, and particularly where there’s a lot of jumping or a chance of stepping on someone's foot (like basketball, soccer, volleyball). If you're looking for quality engineered ankle braces for sports have a look here.
Ankle injuries can also happen from daily activities like slipping on an uneven surface, tripping over an object, or landing wrong when stepping down.
The most common ankle injuries are sprains and strains (rolled, twisted, and turned), with the outside or lateral ankle being the most commonly injured.
The other common ankle conditions involve overuse, such as Achilles Tendonitis with repetitive or intense strain on the Achilles tendon (the band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone).
There are a wide range of ankle braces and supports available to help you manage pain, reduce inflammation and to keep you moving. What brace to use for your situation can be very confusing.
If you want to skip reading this post and simply ask our Healthcare team for a recommendation you can contact us here. Or keep reading for our guide to picking an ankle brace. Our opinion is based on our experience helping thousands of clients accross Canada find the best ankle brace.Here is a quick guide to help make sense of Ankle braces for two common conditions: Sprains and Achilles Tendonitis.
Ankle sprains should be treated right away to stop the swelling, reduce pain, and limit how much weight is placed on the injured ankle. A common protocol for treating Ankle sprains is "RICE" rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Mild pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications are also typically used to help ease pain and swelling.
Ankle braces and supports are a key tool in helping you support and protect your ankle. They can also assist with swelling and pain reduction. Your doctor may suggest that you work with a physical therapist to help you regain full range of ankle motion, improve balance, and maximize strength. Healing of the ligaments usually takes about six weeks, but swelling may be present for several months.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, and a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Strains can occur without a sprain, however, when you have a sprain you will almost always have a strain.
Sprains are categorized into three types - First, Second, and Third degree.
The most common type of ankle sprain is an inversion (lateral) ankle sprain. The foot rolls inward, damaging the ligaments of the outer ankle.
Ankle injuries can also be 'high ankle' or 'low ankle'.
Low ankle sprains are what most of us think of when we hear someone has a 'sprained ankle'. The most common low ankle sprain is caused by inversion of the foot which mainly affects three ligaments: anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the posterior talofibular ligament, and the calcaneal fibular ligament. A common low ankle sprain occurs where the foot is forcefully inverted, and the ligament that suffers the most damage is the ATFL.
High ankle sprains involve turning inward (or outward) while your foot is flexed up. In a high ankle sprain you tear (or damage) the high ankle ligaments that connect the tibia to the fibula. Low ankle sprains don’t involve these high ankle ligaments.
A high ankle sprain is less common than a low ankle sprain. High ankle sprains often happen in athletes who play Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Ice hockey, Skiing, or Soccer. It almost always happens as a result of some type of collision, (versus the rolling motion that causes other ankle sprains). High ankle sprains almost always happen when you’re running or jumping and they involve a twitsing or rotation of the ankle.
The type of ankle brace you require depends on the severity of the injury.
Once you've confirmed what type of ankle sprain you have you can select the appropriate brace to assist you with recovery and protection. It's a good idea to seek a medical diagnosis from a doctor or physiotherapist when dealing with more significant injuries.
In general, ankle braces are designed to control the range of motion of the ankle (inversion, eversion, rotation) to protect the ankle joint and ligaments.
Ankle braces range from low profile compression sleeves that allow almost full range of motion, to rigid immobilizing braces that keep the ankle in a more fixed position. They can feature metal or plastic 'stays' (or inflated air cells) that run along one or both sides of the brace to provide range of motion control. Many designs include strapping with velcro fasteners to mimic the benefits of athletic taping, and elastic knitted fabrics to provide compression for swelling and pain control (as well as some stability).
Many ankle braces are designed to include support for both inversion and eversion movement (although some may be designed specifically for one or the other so make sure you confirm before buying). Ankle braces can also be designed to support both low and high ankle sprains, but again some may be better suited to one or the other so make sure you review the 'indications' in our product descriptions or speak with our healthcare team to pick the best brace for your injury.
OS1st AF7 Compression Ankle Sleeve
Why we like it:
Medi Levamed Active Ankle Support
Why we like it:
Bauerfeind MalleoTrain Ankle Brace
Why we like it:
High quality and versatile ankle sleeve that can be used for relief and stabilization of the ankle: sore ankle joint following injury, surgery or osteoarthritis.
Feiao Medical Devices are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Individually fitted and contoured cushions (pads) on the inner and outer malleolus.
The three-dimensional knit sits comfortably and stimulates circulation.
Medical compression (20-30 mmHg) helps to reduce swelling.
MedSpec ASO EVO Ankle Stabilizer
Why we like it:
The EVO ankle brace has a combination of an internal stirrup, external stabilizing straps and a dynamic cuff.
It's comfortable but still offers very good protection.
It can be used for a wide range of injuries: inversion or eversion ankle sprains, syndesmotic ankle sprain (high ankle sprain), medial or lateral ankle instability and subtalar joint instability (hindfoot instability).
DonJoy Stabilizing Speed Pro Ankle Brace
Why we like it:
Features a contoured design made with rugged ballistic nylon, reinforced eyelets, 3” circumferential compression strap and removable stays.
Good for athletes with vulnerable ankles.
Features a “speed-lacing” system that makes applying the brace fast and easy.
Bauerfeind MalleoTrain S Ankle Brace
Why we like it:
Aircast Airsport Ankle Brace
Why we like it:
AirCast AirSport+
Why we like it:
Stirrup design that aids in ankle stabilization for moderate to severe ankle sprains and chronic instabilities.
Simple step-in design with an adjustable BOA dial system. AirSport+ provides a functional option to help address ankle injuries and rehabilitation.
Versitile brace that can be used for weak ankles due to ligament damage and over stressed ligaments as well as acute ankle sprains & strains - over stretched and/or torn ankle ligaments.
Can be used to prevent reoccurring ankle injury and returning to daily activities.
Ossur Formfit Air Ankle Stirrup
Why we like it:
Lightweight and sturdy.
Can accommodate an acute injury, chronic instability, or post cast healing, Formfit Ankle Stirrups stabilize injured ankles by restricting the inversion/eversion motion.
Slip-resistant silicone dots to reduce slipping and stabilize the foot inside of shoe.
BREG Genesis Full Shell Walker
Why we like it:
The lightest full shell pneumatic walker on the market.
Genesis Walker uses a dynamic air chamber in the heel of the tread which actively absorbs the shock of heel strike and allows for a more comfortable walking experience.
The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body connecting your heel bone to your calf muscles. It is used when walking, running, and jumping.
Achilles Tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed or aggravated from being overstressed or overworked.
Stress on the tendon can occur when an athlete changes the intensity or amount of exercise. Tight calf muscles, and lack of flexibility also contribute to stress on the tendon. Age can play a role as our tendons become less flexible (middle-age athletes tend to be more susceptible to Achilles Tendonitis). Improperly fitting equipment and poor footwear can also contribute.
Overuse is common in runners who add too much mileage too quickly or with frequent hill training. Poor running technique can also aggravate the Achilles (typically due to overstriding).
Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis include heel pain (which starts slowly and worsens over time), as well as stiffness or tenderness along the Achilles in the mornings after waking up (which may improve as you start going about your day). Pain may extend to the back of the leg and there may also be mild swelling around the heel. Symptoms are usually worse after running or after physical activity.
There are many treatments available for Achilles Tendonitis depending on the severity, from home remedies, such as anti-inflammatory medications and RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), to more intensive treatments such as steroid injections and surgery. Physical therapy and massage that promote gently stretching (and later strengthening) of your calf muscles can be beneficial. Wearing a compression sock, ankle brace, or walking boot to provide support and to prevent heel movement is also very helpful.
There are many ankle supports designed specifically for Achilles Tendonitis to counteract irritation to the tendon, through support and compression. Many ankle brace designs also include pads that massage the area. For more severe issues (and following surgery) a rigid boot with a 'wedge' can be used to keep the ankle in a slightly flexed (foot pointed down) position to protect the tendon from overstretching while it heals.
Here are some examples of Ankle supports for Achilles Tendonitis:
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