Different ankle brace types

So you are in the market for an ankle brace and you don’t know which one to choose? Let us try and help you make your decision a bit easier.

There are various types of ankle braces, each providing different fit and support. The common types of ankle braces 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.

To help you decide which is the best brace for you we have categorised the support the braces provide in to Light, Medium and High.

Light Support Ankle Brace Types

An ankle brace that sit in the light support category are generally compression braces. Usually these compression ankle braces are made of a fitting elastic material and provides great compression for swollen ankles.

A compression ankle brace is usually very light and very comfortable (if fitted correctly). Although these types of braces do not prevent ankle sprains from occurring, they are useful to athletes recuperating from a previous ankle injury.

Below are some examples of compression ankle braces.

DonJoy Fortilax Elastic DonJoy Malolax Elastic

Medium Support Ankle Brace Types

Ankle braces in this category are usually heavier than the compression type of ankle braces. However, they provide more support and are great at preventing ankle sprains. There’s a wide variety of this type of ankle brace with some having a lace up/ strap system to rigid inserts that provides stability to the ankle. These inserts can be removed to increase comfort and mobility. Please note, removing these inserts reduces the protection against high ankle sprains.

Highlighted below are some of the medium support ankle braces.

ASO Ankle Brace Aircast A60 Stabiliser

High Support Ankle Brace Types

An ankle brace in this category offers the most amount of protection than any other in the range. These are the most useful at providing maximum protection against high level ankle sprains. In general, these types of braces are much heavier and not as comfortable as the others.

High support ankle braces restrict mobility in the ankle joint through strapping and stirrups. This type of brace is recommended to be used by athletes with chronic ankle sprains and ligament tears.

Below is a range of high support ankle braces.

Aircast AirSport+ DonJoy Velocity ES

What else do I look for in an ankle brace?

Now that you are armed with more information to help you choose the correct ankle brace for your application the next bit of advice we’d like to offer is to read reviews on the product. This way you will avoid buying a cheap Chinese knock off that’s poor quality.

If used as per manufacturer’s instructions, an ankle brace should last a few years. Stitching shouldn’t come loose and material shouldn’t start wearing. Remember, you’ll be wearing this brace inside a shoe so there will be some rubbing. On a cheap brace, this will result in wear.

How do I measure myself to find the right size?

With the braces we sell on Athletic Braces we follow the manufacturers sizing. These are listed on all of our product pages. We also have instructions on how to best measure yourself to get the perfect fit. Please see our size guide for more information.

Injuries can occur in a number of ways whilst playing sport. Acute ankle injuries can cause swelling and pain which can keep you sidelined for weeks if not months. These acute injuries can also cause long term issues. An ankle brace can help prevent the acute injuries giving you the confidence to play the sport you love.

View our range of ankle braces HERE.