Ankle Braces vs No Braces?

Question

I'm a DS/OH that doesn't wear braces at all during season unless I've screwed up my ankle. But everyone knows that a whole lot of people wear them during season and even in off season.The only reason I don't wear them (hard or soft) is because I believe they make your ankles weaker, or more dependant on them as you continue to wear them in games or practice.

Anyone share my thoughts. or disagree? I just want to get other people's opinion because it's always good to hear everyone's thoughts on stuff like that.

Answer 1

Well...after you step on a foot during the first week of the season and miss four weeks you will wish you had them on. It depends on how much net play you will be involved with. You can control your jump and landing but you can't control your opponent or teammates landing.

I was a middle hitter when I sprained my right foot 3 times and my left one 2 times before I bought braces. I didn't have it happen after that. I bought Active Ankle II braces and they do a good job.

They don't let the ankle turn but weaken you ankle I don't think so? You still have full forward and vertical movement. It doesn't allow you ankle to roll lateral thus keeping your tendons in place.

A good investment for me but that is my opinion...Good luck.

Answer 2

Alex, for the most part it comes down to personal preference based on the main reason you put out there.  Wearing ankle braces may help prevent some sprains, but relying on them will end up leading to weaker ankles, often to the point where you will NEED them.  Assuming you are in high school, and not knowing how good/bad your ankles are, I'd recommend not using them except if you injure yourself and then only for a short time.

My experience leading to my opinion: Back in the day when I was in high school, I first really hurt my ankle when I came down from a dunk and landed on somebody's foot.  I wore an "air-cast," similar to the active ankles that were just coming out at the time.  I didn't initially care for the brace and as soon as it felt "ok" I took off the brace.  I didn't do any rehab or strength stuff and within a week, I had re-sprained it.  I ended up playing the rest of the basketball season and then volleyball season with active ankles.  I got used to them, and it wasn't a big deal for me, in terms of playing.

When our season was over and such, my ankles were weak.  Basically I decided then that rather than risk getting hurt, I'd just continue to play with active ankles.  It was fine, but my ankles never did regain strength back and in the years that followed, when I would play vball/bball without ankle braces, I would sprain my ankles rather easily.

I wish I hadn't become so reliant on ankle braces.  Mid-way through college volleyball and then when I played professionally afterwards, I used the ASO ankle braces which I think are the best.  (Active ankles can lead to stress fractures and shin problems for some people.)  Even with braces, there's no guarantee and the worst sprain i ever got was in my second year playing professionally when I came down on an opponent's foot while wearing braces.  (It was probably worse and took longer to get better because my ankles were so weak from playing with braces so long.)

So bottom line: Wearing ankle braces will certainly save you from sprained ankles, but just realize that wearing them over extended periods will probably make you rely on them for the rest of your playing career.  If I were you and i didn't NEED them, i wouldn't go down the road of ankle braces. If you find that without ankle braces you have weak ankles anyways and are spraining them often, then it would make sense to get some ASO ankle braces (although other companies make similar styles now).

Answer 3

i believe you should wear them the first few months of injury, and gradually stop using them

Answer 4

If you have extremely high arches in your feet then you should wear them all the time. I used to use alittle foam wrap and then used the white athletic tape. Got pretty good at it andit only took a couple of min. and I was ready to work out!! Because if you don't you will be in pain most of the time and I'm speaking from prior experience. Then if it's bad enough your seating out waiting for it to heal. Think preventive thats the best! I was in Volley, basketball and Track and I had to not only wrap my ankles EVERY practice but also every game.    I can't imagine how much $ the athletic Dept. spent on me alone? Good luck, you don't want ankle spears when you get older like me, they hurt too.