Here are examples of stirrup and rigid ankle braces: The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body connecting your heel bone to your calf muscles. Things that tend to make an already sprained ankle worse include: Abnormal proprioception a common complication of ankle sprains can also lead to repeat sprains. Our number one pick for a torn ligament support is the Bauerfeind MalleoLoc Ankle Brace, preventing lateral twisting of the ankle without restricting movement. Healing of the ligaments usually takes about six weeks, but swelling may be present for several months. However, the type and extent of the injury can only be determined via a thorough examination. For a Grade 2 sprain, a removable plastic device, such as a walking boot or aircast brace, can provide support. However, there are several things you can do to prevent this: Often surgery is required for a torn ligament. Due to the swelling and inflammation, this physical exam may be painful and often includes: Your doctor may be able to tell the severity of your ankle sprain based on the amount of swelling, pain, bruising, and stability. Choose footwear with appropriate support for your activity. Copyright 1995-2021 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Repeated ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems, including chronic ankle pain, arthritis, and instability. During movement, the ankle supports five to seven times the weight of the body, meaning it has the heaviest burden out of all the bodys joints. Taking steps, moving, or putting weight on the affected foot usually causes pain. Find a brace designed to treat your injury for optimal results. Grade 1: Overextension of the ligaments without damage or joint instability, Grade 2: Severe overextension or partial rupture of one or several ligaments without joint instability, Grade 3: Complete ligament tear in the ankle joint and instability of the joint. Wearing a compression sock, ankle brace, or walking boot to provide support and to prevent heel movement is also very helpful. If there is severe tearing of the ligaments, you might also hear or feel a pop. This can happen if you return to work, sports, or other activities before your ankle heals and is rehabilitated. The brace sits close to the body, while its thermoplastic properties adapt perfectly to the individual shape of the foot, providing optimum support and stability to the injured region. It may be difficult to determine whether the ligament is completely healed, but symptoms (pain and swelling) can often guide the advancement of physical therapy and function. The affected joint should immediately be immobilized, iced, and elevated. Workout Wednesday: Step Ups Plus - AchilloTrain. Ankle injuries can happen to anyone, during a wide range of activities and across all age ranges. Trusted by NBA athletes and professional athletic trainers with its innovative design delivering superior comfort, stability and pain relief to players overcoming injury. Bruising and swelling are common signs of a sprained ankle. Following are several ligament injury braces in order from lightest to heaviest. An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more of the ligaments that stabilize the ankle. The comfortable, elastic design will fit into most shoes for everyday wear, while the anatomically contoured plastic shells will protect from further injury. Depending on your symptoms and examination, your doctor may order X-rays to evaluate the bones in your ankle and foot. Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2010. Stress on the tendon can occur when an athlete changes the intensity or amount of exercise. Sprains can range from tiny tears in the fibers that make up the ligament to complete tears. Please note: Information provided is for reference purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or medical opinion. Includes a short period of immobilization, rest, and ice to reduce the swelling. If the elastic limit of the ligaments is exceeded, they may suffer a partial or full tear. You are using an old version of Internet Explorer that may cause this site to display improperly or not at all. Over time, this instability can result in damage to the bones and cartilage, the smooth lining of the joint. Rehabilitation. Every joint is also surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. All rights reserved. Joint stability is important for all types of activities, including standing, walking, and running. This is then referred to as a rupture (ligament tear in the ankle) or partial rupture, which results in a tangible loss in stability in the ankle. X-rays provide images of dense structures, such as bone. With the ever widening array of choices when it comes to ankle braces out there, how in the world is someone supposed to make the right choice for their particular orthopedic need? Without proper treatment and rehabilitation, a chronic or untreated severe sprain can weaken your ankle, making it more likely that you will injure it again. A quick change of direction, direct contact with another person or a skewed landing following a jump can all result in tearing your ankle ligaments. Gone are the days when a 100 pound, female runner must choose from what used to be known as the unisex brace translation-it doesnt fit anyone. 2007 - 2022 Health and Care (UK) Ltd | Registration No. And this is no small thing. The MalleoLoc can be worn in outdoor shoes or sports shoes and enables the normal heel-to-toe movement of the foot. Here are some examples of Ankle supports for Achilles Tendonitis: For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. If your torn ligament is very severe we recommend a heavier brace. A lateral sprain can be serious and set someone up for continued weakness and other injuries related to falling. Here are some examples of Ankle supports for, McDavid Elite Elastic Ankle Brace W/Figure 6 Strap & Stays, New Bauerfeind MalleoTrain Plus Ankle Brace, New Bauerfeind MalleoTrain S Ankle Brace Black, New Bauerfeind MalleoTrain S Ankle Brace Titan, Orliman Therago Functional Elastic Ankle Support, Sporlastic Swede-O-Universal X8 Ankle Brace, MedSpec ASO Vortex - Ankle Stabilizing Orthosis, MedSpec ASO EVO Speed Lacer - Ankle Stabilizing Orthosis. Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program. X-rays. Stress X-rays. Pay careful attention when walking, running, or working on an uneven surface. Do you have any questions about our ankle supports, or any of our other products for ankle rehabilitation and protection? A torn ligament is often marked by a noticeable snap in the leg, whether heard or just felt. Torn ligaments can take months to heal and many will require surgical intervention, so it is essential you consult your doctor. The splint squeezes your ankle between two pads) and Rigid designs that provide more immobilization, some include air cells. Physical therapy. Physical therapy and massage that promote gently stretching (and later strengthening) of your calf muscles can be beneficial. A Grade 2 sprain results in partial tearing of the ligament or ligaments. For a First Degree or mild strain the most appropriate Ankle braces are lightweight and lower profile, with moderate support, such as these compression ankle sleeves. Age can play a role as our tendons become less flexible (middle-age athletes tend to be more susceptible to Achilles Tendonitis). Theres nothing like trying to run that bucket-list half marathon while stopping every 30 minutes to tighten or loosen an ankle brace. 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). Our lines are staffed from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. The correct ankle support can help fast-track your recovery and prevent further damage, whether or not you need surgery. Ankle braces and supports are a key tool in helping you support and protect your ankle. The greater the pain, swelling and sensation of looseness, the more severe the tear. Your doctor may obtain an MRI: After the examination, your doctor will determine the grade of your sprain to help develop a treatment plan. A cast or protective boot is applied to protect the ligaments. All major credit and debit cards accepted securely online.We are a trusted ISO 9001:2015 certified company. The RICE protocol. To diagnose a sprain, your doctor will gently palpate around the outside of the ankle in the area of the pain (arrow). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. We use cookies on this website. This allows the injured ligaments to recover more quickly and the normal physiological movement patterns associated with walking can be regained at an early stage. Speak with one of our expert product specialists. The main aim of PT is to restore the full range of motion and to train the strength and coordination of the joint in order to stabilize its muscles and thus reduce the risk of reinjury. Please consider downloading one of the following browsers to get the optimal user experience: If you wish to continue you may close this window, but it is highly recommended that you update first. They are easy to pull on and take off, with four adjustable Velcro fastenings. A torn ligament can be mistaken for a sprained ankle, but in fact the serious nature of this injury requires top-notch after-care. For milder sprains, your doctor may recommend simple home treatment. Warm up thoroughly before exercise and physical activity. The length of time you can expect to spend recovering depends on the extent of injury and the surgery that was performed. In most cases, swelling and pain will last 2 to 3 days. There are many ankle supports designed specifically for Achilles Tendonitis to counteract irritation to the tendon, through support and compression. All material on this website is protected by copyright. Strains can occur without a sprain, however, when you have a sprain you will almost always have a strain. Grade 3 sprains may require a short leg cast or cast-brace for 10 to 14 days. Your doctor will diagnose your ankle sprain by asking you questions about the injury and performing a careful examination of your foot and ankle. Sprains may occurunexpectedly during many different activities, such as: The types and severity of symptoms for a sprained ankle vary widely depending on the degree of the injury. DeVilbiss iGo2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator, Donjoy Armor Professional Knee Brace with Fourcepoint, Therapeutica Spinal Alignment Sleeping Pillow, Ultimate Performance Compression Elastic Ankle Support, Silipos Malleolar Cushioning Gel Ankle Sleeve, Aircast Plantar Fasciitis AirHeel Ankle Brace, CordedAmplifiedTelephonesWithAnsweringMachines, CordlessAmplifiedTelephonesWithAnsweringMachine, Television&ConversationAmplificationAids, PaediatricAlternatingAirMattressSystems, FireSafetyForCareHomesOnlineTraining, FireSafetyForHospitalsandNHSOnlineTraining, ManualHandlingandRiskAssessmentOnlineTraining, EvacuationChairandSledgeMultiBuyDeals, EvacuationChairsandTheLaw-ReadOurGuide, Warm up properly before you begin exercising, Stretch your ankles to increase blood flow and increase flexibility of the joint, Wear the correct shoes for whatever activity you're engaged in, Make sure to build up the strength in your ankles with targeted exercise, Prevents rollover and ankle sprains with a plastic stabiliser, Designed for professional and amateur athletes alike, Comfortable to wear in almost any trainer or shoe, Stabilising brace for partial immobilisation of ankle, Ideal for recovery after injury or as alternative to surgery, Can be worn in any casual shoes and barefoot, Prevents the ankle from twisting outwards, Designed to provide a high level of foot compression, Ideal for people with ankle injuries and sprains, Ambidextrous design suitable for either foot, Malleolar sleeve with two gel pads to cushion the ankle, Protects the ankle against impact, pressure and rubbing, Provides gentle compression to reduce swelling, Suitable for wearing in a wide range of footwear, Low-profile and lightweight support for added comfort, Features rigid uprights to protect ankle during impact, Prevents abnormal inversion/eversion and rotation, Compresses the tibia and fibula for added stability, Ankle brace with two air cells to support the arch and Achilles tendon, Ideal for treating plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and heel pain, Helps to reduce swelling and pain while improving circulation, Applies pulsating compression with every step, Stabilising ankle brace suitable for use after ankle injury or surgery, Ideal for twisting injuries, torn ligaments and capsular ligament strains, Provides support and prevents lateral twisting without complete restriction, Comfortable design fits in most shoes for everyday wear, Tackle and prevent ankle injuries, ankle instability and ankle arthritis, Suitable for use playing sports, going shopping, going for walks and more, Slim and lightweight for use with most shoes, trainers and boots, Breathable ankle support suitable for sports, Provides ankle stability to prevent ankle injury, Lace enclosure provides support and allows easy application, Suitable for either the left or the right foot, Cushions the ankle and reduces pain while you're recovering, For support when you're almost ready to begin exercising again, Assists with rehabilitation for functional recovery, Quick and easy to apply with no measurements required.