In basketball, your knees and ankles are by far your most important parts of the body. Basketball places a ton of stress on the ankles and knees.
Every year players from the NBA to high school find their season cut to an abrupt end due to a nasty knee injury such as a torn ACL.
Ankle injuries are not as severe, but still they can cost a player one to two months of the season if they are very severe.
The most common cause for an ankle injury is when one player lands on another player’s foot. The odd lands of your toes, creates an even odder lands for the back of your foot – more specifically the ankle.
The ankle is often taken for granted when you think about your legs. After all, your ankle supports all of your upper body weight. When the ankle is severely sprained or broken, the player cannot put any weight on the ankle to walk much less play basketball.
Basketball ankle braces help injured players get back on the court sooner. It is not uncommon for a player with a severe ankle injury to use the brace for the remainder of his or her career.
Basketball ankle braces support the weight of your upper body, placing less stress on the ankle. The added support allows players to return sooner to the court, even if they are not at full speed.
Ankle braces are easy to apply to the foot. Some players complain about the added friction and weight of the brace, but unfortunately they usually have little to no choice after returning from a major ankle injury.
Ankle braces join knee braces as the two most common types of equipment in basketball. Players never need all the pads that a common football or hockey player will wear. Basketball players usually only need a brace to match the jersey, and even then it’s not always necessary.
Basketball ankle braces range in price from $20-$80 dollars depending on how complicated the brace is, what materials it’s made of, and how much it’s proven to help or work.
For basketball players, the major basketball ankle support system ranges from mild to maximum support. Mild ankle support could include something as simple as wrapping the ankle wrap.
Mild support is designed for first degree sprains. This occurs when the ankle is taken past its normal range of motion and the ligaments that hold the joints together have been overstretched but not torn.
Symptoms include little to no swelling, which is usually localized directly over the sprained joint. Expect mild pain and limited range of motion. Weight bearing and walking are still possible, and you can return to normal activities in 1-2 weeks.
Moderate support is for second degree sprains. This is the most common type of sprain and includes mild partial ligament tears with swelling and stiffness in the joint. This sprain will inhibit weight bearing or use of the joint.
Symptoms can include intense swelling, moderate pain, and moderate loss of motion or use of the joint. Walking can be difficult. Normal activities can return within 2-4 weeks.
Maximum support is needed in the rare event of a third degree ankle sprain. This sprain is usually total rupture of a ligament. The symptoms are intense swelling, extreme loss of motion, and intense. Seek medical attention if you believe you have a third degree ankle sprain. Expect a major healing time of 3-12 months.
When you buy an ankle brace, consider the type of sprain it is. While you can make a fair diagnoses of the sprain, consult a qualified physician and get his or her diagnoses. Physicians can also tell you where and what kind of ankle braces are advisable to buy.