Why exactly do a lot of volleyball players wear ankle braces during games?

Question

I'm an amateur volleyball player, and I have a lot of ankle problems. Should I buy the braces? Why do players with perfectly fine ankles wear them? Just wondering. (:

Answer 1

well to answer your 1st question, its simply because of a fashion statement, why else?

And most players i know that wear them have problems with their legs/knees/ankles.

Lastly, from what i hear, once you start playing with the brace you cant really play without it (or so i hear from my friends that wear it).

If you have problems with your ankles, you should DEF wear it.

Answer 2

To prevent injury, like someone twisting of breaking an ankle.

Answer 3

they support your ankle and prevent it from getting hurt, it's important to wear them.

the varsity coach makes all levels run a suicde for each person w/o ankle braces, daily.

Answer 4

i wear ankle braces on both my ankles in practice and games. my left ankle is fine but my right ankle is messed up. i wear the brace on my left foot just to make sure i dont mess that ankle up too

Answer 5

I used to wear active ankles as a recovery and preventative measure while playing. I wore them for about three years after a bad sprain, I got used to them and I also heard the rumor that they make your ankles weak (Complete B.S. btw), then I tried playing without them and weened myself off of them because I was scared of a sprain. I still have weak ankles, but I haven't (knock on wood) had a sprain in about 4 years. I have just learned to fall down if I start to feel a twist coming on instead of fighting the urge to stay up (which is what causes the rolled ankle injury.)

Answer 6

its for people who have week ankles & it gives them more support. but some stupid people wear them as a "fashion statement" butt mainly are worn to protect your ankle from getting injuryed.

Answer 7

um well................. idk

maybe their ankles hurt

Answer 8

Although a lot of these answers are correct, none of them cover all the issues.  Active Ankles are a preventitive measure but are not full proof.  Nothing will be a %100 guarantee.  Yes, buy 2 ankle braces.  But do not forget to strengthen the most important "brace" of all, your natural ankle muscles.  Find or buy (they are very cheap) a theraband.  (even at Walmart)  Put the band around your foot holding on to the ends with both hands creating a stirup.  Pull back putting tension on the band and draw with your entire foot the complete ABC's.  Do this  with both feet everyday.  Your doctor should have recomended this when you injured it.  It works wonders to keep the ankle strong.  

   Almost all volleyball players wear the braces just for accidents.  If you are ever at the net and you come down from the block, there is a good chance the other girl from the otherside has her feet on the center line and it is very easy to land on her feet or your fellow blockers feet and roll out your ankle.  I did this my first year playing in college and ended up having reconstructive surgery on my right ankle.  Non weight bearing for 6 weeks and a huge scar and sitting out Nationals is not where you want to be.  Also for those who are down playing knee pads...please take it from someone is 25 yrs old now and has had 5 knee surgeries b/c she didn't think she needed them either when she was younger.  What looks like a great bruise to brag about now, is not worth getting your knee cap shaved and femur drilled into down the road.  Plus, you should be hitting the floor for every ball, so why wouldn't you.  So please, do some ankle excercises with a theraband, get some Active Ankles, and wear your knee pads.  I didn't get to play my senior year in college because I had so much damage to my knees.  My physician wouldn't pass me on my exam and I sat for my last season to fullfill my full ride scholarship.  Take care of your body, keep loven' the game, and good luck.

Answer 9

Active ankles are a requirement by most coaches when playing volleyball.  They're considered to be like a kneepad (I hate both of them) to prevent injury.  If you have ankle problems, you should look online or even go visit a doctor and try to do some stabalizers and strengthen them.  An ankle brace will not fix a hurt ankle, in fact if it's hurt taping and wearing braces will actually hinder the healing process.  As for wearing ankle braces and having to continually wear them forever, I was required to wear them and I have perfectly fine ankles and never needed them after I was done.  You should definitely look into active ankles because they keep you from having small tweaks and give outs, but try to do some rehab so you don't get dependent on them.

Answer 10

Most front row volleyball players use them to prevent injuries from coming down wrong, or landing on another player. If you play front row then my advice is yes buy them. I wear active ankles and I started wearing them after I sprained my ankle.

Answer 11

the ywear them because they give their ancles support, so the ycannot twist it funny. you should definatly get one because whe nyou get to a sertain level you WILL get hurt! i would recomend the Active Ancle T2... i find the ywork best...

       good luck... hope you dont get hurt!

Answer 12

yea definatly get them...there called active ankles and you can get them at almost any sports equiptment store....they might cause a bit but they are really worth the money because i have been playing volleyball for many years and have seen so many great players not wear ankle protection and get an ankle injury totally ruining there whole volleyball career!!!!!! so yes i would highly reccommend them and they arent as uncomfortable as they look and ppl tell u they r

Answer 13

Playing volleyball cause lots of strain on the ankles so its easy to get an ankle injury, i'd say get the braces because it will help you prevent injuries!

Answer 14

It's so that they have more support on there ankles (of course). Sometimes when you jump you can land funny and hurt your ankle or you could twist it a bit while running. I use ankle braces (I actually have ankle problems) I do infact reccomend that if your problems are somewhat serious that you should use them so that you don't do anything to serious to them