Will wearing an ankle brace weaken my ankle? (2024)

FAQs

Will wearing an ankle brace weaken my ankle? ›

Conclusion. While some ankle braces, like the lace-up style, can restrict joint range of motion they do not necessarily weaken the ankle. A lace-up brace would have to be worn over an extended period of time to cause any major damage.

There is a misconception that figure 8 lace-up ankle braces will weaken your ankles if you wear them consistently; however, this is not true based on science.

However, the downside of an ankle brace is that people who wear ankle braces for prevention may be at higher risk for sustaining a knee injury. The ankle brace may impair your mobility and some of your neuromuscular control in such a way that it puts you at risk for injury elsewhere.”

You may be able to walk with an ankle splint, but often not right away. After injuries such as sprains, fractures, and dislocations occur, they usually need time to heal before weight-bearing. Walking or weight bearing too soon may slow healing or cause further damage.

In most cases, if you have strong ankles and aren't constantly putting your ankles at risk, then preventative ankle bracing isn't for you. However, preventative braces are a good idea if you play a sport with a high incidence of ankle injuries like volleyball or basketball.

Use braces, compression, or supports should be for daytime use only. However, you can use an ankle wrap at night for extra support. Make sure the wrap stays loose enough for some movement and circulation. Do not wrap the foot as tight as you would in daytime use for more movement.

Wearing an ankle brace has some benefits over taping an ankle. Taping is more time-consuming than putting on a brace and there's greater room for error. If the ankle isn't taped properly, it won't offer enough support to reduce the risk of injury.

Wearing an ankle brace can cause reliance

Wearing an ankle brace for too long can cause a reliance on it instead of the natural strength of the ankle. If your young athlete only wears an ankle brace after an injury and does not undergo rehabilitation, the ankle may remain weak, even after healing.

The Case For Ankle Braces

They provide additional support and stability, reducing the risk of re-injury. Your ankles might already be weakened due to prior incidents, making them more susceptible to future problems. Ankle braces act as a safety net. The nature of the sport you're involved in plays a significant role.

For acute injuries, a walking boot, followed by a rigid ankle brace is advised. Eventually moving to semi-rigid ankle support. For ankle sprain prevention, the Aryse stability ankle system is a great option.

Can an ankle brace make a sprain worse? ›

We need to promote proper return to motion, and prolonged taping or bracing actually limits the return of motion and normal function.

One simple ankle-strengthening exercise is to loop a resistance band around the foot and attach it to something heavy, like a table leg. Then flex the foot forward, backward and sideways, aiming for three sets of 15 repetitions each.

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. For the best protection, wear a sock that extends past the top of your brace.

Just standing on one leg and practicing balance can build the coordination needed to prevent ankle injuries from happening — or at least decrease their severity. Standing on one leg while brushing your teeth, doing dishes or watching TV, for example, may have a positive impact.

Ankle bracing and rehabilitation are common methods to reduce the rate of recurrent ankle sprain in participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Physicians often recommend that you wear a brace during activities for up to 12 months after an ankle sprain. Many variables determine the type of brace you need and how long you need to wear it.

I recommend that for a grade 2 ankle sprain you wear a brace for a couple of weeks and for a grade 3 ankle brace for longer perhaps 4-6 weeks.

Minor ankle ligament tears (Grade 1) usually don't require a brace unless you have to walk over very uneven terrain or want to continue playing sport throughout your recovery. You're very likely to benefit from wearing an ankle brace if you have a significant ankle ligament tear (Grade 2 or 3).

You want to tighten it just enough to provide the support or compression you need. But you don't want to adjust it too tight where it cuts off your blood circulation or causes discomfort! If you experience increased pain and swelling while wearing an ankle brace contact your rehab specialist.

Doctors, especially in sports medicine, often recommend supporting the ankle by wearing an ankle brace or taping it during activity following an injury.

How to tell the difference between a sprained ankle and a broken ankle? ›

But if you have numbness or tingling, your ankle is most likely broken. Where is the pain? If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over your ankle bone, you probably have a fracture. If the pain is in the soft part of your ankle, it's more likely a sprain.

Wrap the ankle with an Ace Bandage or Coban Self-Adhering Wrap, to support the ankle and minimize the rapid swelling that occurs immediately after injury. Check the toes often to make sure there's blood circulation beyond the bandage. If they turn blue or numb, loosen the wrap slightly.

While ankle taping won't actually "fix" underlying joint issues (like chronic instability, tendinopathies, etc.), it still can help lower the risk of foot injuries by offering support and stabilization. "Think of tape as like a more mobile version of a boot, cast or brace.

Braces in this category are mainly for treating injuries, including recovery after surgery. For less severe injuries and everyday use, such as for exercising, medi also offers ankle supports. These models offer support and compression without restricting movement.

Examples include sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations. Another issue that causes weak ankles is chronic ankle instability, which develops after trauma to the ankle. There are also some health conditions that can cause the ankles to get weak. Diabetes and osteoarthritis are the most common ones.

To replace your ankle brace really depends on how active you are. If you play two to three seasons of sports a year—football in the winter and long-distance running in the summer—you should replace it once a year. If you're only occasionally active, you can use your brace for up to two years.

Ankle braces help prevent injury by restricting motion, but those restrictions don't necessarily result in negative effects on athletic performance. Evidence suggests that while agility may be affected with use of an ankle brace, vertical jump and balance skills may not.

You're very likely to benefit from wearing an ankle brace if you have a significant ankle ligament tear (Grade 2 or 3). (Read more about the grading of ankle ligament tears.) Minor ankle sprains usually don't require a brace, but Grade 2 and 3 sprains can benefit from one.