What to use, ankle wrap or ankle brace ... for the purpose of prevention

[tennis4]

I almost sprained my ankle over the weekend when playing tennis. I found there are wrap vs brace when it comes to provide support for the ankle. What should I use? And should I use by pair or only on the dominant ankle?

For wrap, I found this one: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Tec-Athle...sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1334682238&sr=1-51

For brace, http://www.amazon.com/ASO-Ankle-Sta...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1334683541&sr=1-1

Any comments? Thanks in advance.

 

[ollinger]

Neither. If you significantly immobilize the ankle, the stress of changing direction will be shifted to your knee. Personally, I'd rather have my ankle involved.

 

[nyc]

The ASO is great at protecting a healing ligament.

Best for prevention for rolled ankles quite honestly is training your ankles.

 

[tennis4]

Would using brace or wrap weaken the ankle over time? I survived Sunday's play but I feel this could happen again. What's the better way to prevent this kind of mishap?

The ASO is great at protecting a healing ligament.

Best for prevention for rolled ankles quite honestly is training your ankles.

 

[Bud]

Neither. If you significantly immobilize the ankle, the stress of changing direction will be shifted to your knee. Personally, I'd rather have my ankle involved.

How many ankle sprains have you experienced?

 

[LuckyR]

Would using brace or wrap weaken the ankle over time? I survived Sunday's play but I feel this could happen again. What's the better way to prevent this kind of mishap?

Nope, if used during matchplay only.

 

[lvuong]

I use the wrap. It gives me enough solidity in the angle but also flexible enough for me to move well all over the court. Seem to me that the brace will hinder your movement somewhat.

 

[lvuong]

Would using brace or wrap weaken the ankle over time? I survived Sunday's play but I feel this could happen again. What's the better way to prevent this kind of mishap?

Careful warming up your angle before playing is a must. The other thing is don't rush to jumping or reaching out. Of course, it is best that you keep the body balance all the time.

It is very painful when you get a rolled angle.

 

[usta2050]

I almost sprained my ankle over the weekend when playing tennis. I found there are wrap vs brace when it comes to provide support for the ankle. What should I use? And should I use by pair or only on the dominant ankle?

For wrap, I found this one: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Tec-Athle...sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1334682238&sr=1-51

For brace, http://www.amazon.com/ASO-Ankle-Sta...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1334683541&sr=1-1

Any comments? Thanks in advance.

Get better shoes and do more stretchings and sterngthening exercises.

 

[charliefedererer]

The forces generated in tennis from stopping, starting and changing direction means only the brace will provide meaningful ankle protection.

Some players find an ankle brace can allow them to return to play without the likelihood of soon suffering another ankle strain.

Are you playing on a school team? Tennis players sometimes don't realize there are often physical therapists that can check out problems like ankle sprains, and offer reasonable advice and therapy.

Indeed, it is always better to be seen locally and actually examined by a therapist or sports medicine specialist than to just "wing it" by posting, and trying to figure out how bad your injury is, how best to recover, when to return to play, and what type of strengthening you can do all on your own.


As ollinger points out, one of the potential problems with an ankle brace is t that is the ankle is fixed, so that the stress can be transferred to the knee.


After you ankle no longer has pain, you can do "ankle strengthening exercises" (the ankle is actually a joint and as such has no muscle, but strengthening the leg muscles can take stress off the tendons and ligaments, and over the time the ligaments themselves can tolerate greater forces):

Have You Suffered A Sprained Ankle? http://www.joint-pain-solutions.com/images/anklestrengthening.jpg


Eventually, agility drills are a great way to develop "strong ankles", as well as to improve your on court movement:
USTA agility drills: http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/USTA_Import/USTA/dps/doc_437_269.pdf

 

[Bud]

^^ The ankle is not fixed while wearing an ankle brace. You can still move it in all directions. However, it does limit the movement which causes the ankle to ultimately roll. The ankle will roll so far until the strap system kicks in and prevents it from going all the way over.

There is a reason so many pros now wear the ASO type ankle braces.

 

[tennis4]

Thanks for the tips. I just received the ASO yesterday and will have a crack at it today. (Just one piece, not a pair).

The forces generated in tennis from stopping, starting and changing direction means only the brace will provide meaningful ankle protection.

Some players find an ankle brace can allow them to return to play without the likelihood of soon suffering another ankle strain.

Are you playing on a school team? Tennis players sometimes don't realize there are often physical therapists that can check out problems like ankle sprains, and offer reasonable advice and therapy.

Indeed, it is always better to be seen locally and actually examined by a therapist or sports medicine specialist than to just "wing it" by posting, and trying to figure out how bad your injury is, how best to recover, when to return to play, and what type of strengthening you can do all on your own.


As ollinger points out, one of the potential problems with an ankle brace is t that is the ankle is fixed, so that the stress can be transferred to the knee.


After you ankle no longer has pain, you can do "ankle strengthening exercises" (the ankle is actually a joint and as such has no muscle, but strengthening the leg muscles can take stress off the tendons and ligaments, and over the time the ligaments themselves can tolerate greater forces):

Have You Suffered A Sprained Ankle? http://www.joint-pain-solutions.com/images/anklestrengthening.jpg


Eventually, agility drills are a great way to develop "strong ankles", as well as to improve your on court movement:
USTA agility drills: http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/USTA_Import/USTA/dps/doc_437_269.pdf

 

[Bud]

Use Ankle Braces

First Monaco and now Benneteau :shock:

That's a nasty ankle roll!

The side straps on the ASO braces make it nearly impossible for the ankle to reach that point of a roll. The only way that'll happen is if the velcro gives or the side strap breaks. I bet we see Benneteau in ankle braces from this point forward.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Dude... give a proper warning alert before you post a picture like that.




I think we've all twisted our ankles or bend it in one way or another playing tennis.

I feel like if the ankle is going to roll/twist/bend, then it's going to roll/twist/bend. I don't think any sort of protective brace, unless it's complete rigid, will prevent an ankle getting bent out of shape.

 

[bertrevert]

Use the ASO brace - yes, and I use only one (on the left).

Great preventative. Have not rolled with it. Have certainly rolled the left ankle without it. Yes it works. Your ankle is not locked. Tell us how oyu like it when you have tried it! For tennis I am absolutely sold on wearing it every time (despite half-humourous sneering comments from other clubbers!). All good.

The velcro on mine is starting to wear out. Wonder what's the shelf life of an ASO brace, ie. when does it begin to fail...?

 

[Bud]

Use the ASO brace - yes, and I use only one (on the left).

Great preventative. Have not rolled with it. Have certainly rolled the left ankle without it. Yes it works. Your ankle is not locked. Tell us how oyu like it when you have tried it! For tennis I am absolutely sold on wearing it every time (despite half-humourous sneering comments from other clubbers!). All good.

The velcro on mine is starting to wear out. Wonder what's the shelf life of an ASO brace, ie. when does it begin to fail...?

The velcro one one of my braces is coming apart from the nylon side straps. I could sew it back on... However, I have my eyes on the ASO braces that incorporate the speed lacing system. We'll see.

So far, my have gone 3 years with no issues (apart from the velcro separating). I can't see them failing unless the nylon starts fraying or the straps tear, etc.

 

[Pozza]

I wear ASO braces on both ankles after full ligament reconstructions to both ankles over the last few years.

The difference in security is amazing when I wear them. That said, I don't have a reliance on them and still hit occasionally without them but if i'm having a serious hit I wouldn't go without now.

 

[jwbarrientos]

I've been told (by docs) many times to avoid brace and wrap in favor of ankle strengthening.

But, in pain cases, docs told me brace are better for tennis and wrap for soccer (the other sport I play).

Even those exercises demand time, they are great for ankles.

 

[anontennis]

For those of you with the ASO - how do you care for it? Hand wash? Washing machine? Nothing at all?

Just picked one up last week, my right ankle has been giving me trouble.