Basketball Ankle Braces

Playing basketball has a lot of running/ sprinting, cutting (sudden change of direction) and stopping on a hard surface; the basketball court. Ankle injuries are amongst the most common injuries for a basketball player.

Not only do ankle injuries keep you out from playing for weeks but it also affects your confidence when you get back from injury. During this time the risks of re-injury is high. However, re-injury is very preventable.

What are the types of basketball ankle braces?

There’s a wide variety of basketball ankle braces, each providing a different form of fit and support. The common types are:

• Sleeves
  Provide compression around the ankle.
• Straps
  Material straps loop around the ankle providing support.
• Stirrups
  Two rigid objects that  fit on either side of the ankle to prevent rolling.
• Lace-ups
  Brace that has a lacing system similar to a shoe which tightens the brace around the ankle to provide compression.
• Hybrid
  Usually ankle braces that have straps, stirrups and lacing.

What to look for in a basketball ankle brace?

If you’ve rolled your ankle, torn ligaments in your ankle or just want to prevent anything from happening. Ankle braces are the most common bit of equipment used by basketball players to prevent such injuries.

Ankle braces provide you with the support you need to prevent re-injury. Enabling you to get back on court before the ankle is strong enough to play on. It also provides you with the added protection to allow you to play with confidence. Removing any second guessing you might have on the court.

Before you go off buying a pair of ankle braces there’s a few things to consider.

Fit and comfort

Fit and comfort is one of the most important things when finding an ankle brace for yourself. Size a brace too large, it’ll be loose and your foot will slide in the brace resulting in the brace not giving you the support you need.

Size a brace too small, the brace will feel tight and you will be in discomfort taking from your concentration on the basketball court. This in turn can lead to other injuries especially in your planta fascia. The size of your ankle brace is determined by your shoe size and ankle size. For more help measuring for ankle braces please see our Size Guide.

The next factor to consider when selecting an ankle brace is the comfort. Ankle braces should not cause any discomfort. Even after spending hours playing basketball. The best way of finding out a brace is comfortable is to read product reviews.

Durability

When purchasing a basketball ankle brace durability should be on the front of mind. The last thing you want is the brace to be falling apart after a couple of training sessions. There are numerous cheap brands selling on eBay which will have stitching come loose after just a few uses. This is why at Athletic Braces we only stock high quality bracing which won’t fall apart in weeks.

Ankle stabilisation

Basketball is a game of sharp movements; cutting, sprinting and jumping. Injuries can occur in numerous ways. An acute injury and or sudden twisting or rolling of the ankles can lead to swelling and pain. These injuries can cause long term damage and pain.

Ankle braces can help you achieve a better range of motion on the basketball court as you won’t need to be conscious about your injury. Instead the focus can be on the basketball game. The correct ankle brace will give you peace of mind.

Happy ballin!

If you have injured your ankle please seek advice from a proper medical professional.