How To Choose The Best Ankle Brace Online?

Ankle braces are most often used to support an injured ankle, ease pain from arthritis or help prevent a sprain during sport. Ankle injuries are common in sports that involve jumping, landing and quick changes of direction, such as basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton. They can take weeks to heal, and an ankle that has been sprained once is more likely to be sprained again. Wearing the right ankle support can help you recover and lower the risk of another injury.

In this short guide we explain the main types of ankle braces, how to choose one and what to look for when you buy an ankle brace online.

Types of ankle supports

There are three main types of ankle brace:

Lace-up braces

Lace-up braces let you adjust the tightness at different points around the foot and ankle. They are popular with athletes who want firm support during play and can help reduce the risk of ankle sprains.

Rigid and semi-rigid braces

Stirrup-style and rigid braces limit sideways rolling of the ankle while still allowing you to walk. They are mostly used after a moderate or severe sprain, or for an unstable ankle.

Soft ankle supports

Soft supports are elastic sleeves or bandages, similar to a compression sock. They are used for mild injuries, swelling and everyday pain. Some include pads around the ankle bones or straps for extra stability.

How to choose the right ankle brace

The right brace depends on your needs, but these are the main factors to consider:

How severe the injury is

Match the level of support to your injury. For prevention during sport, a lace-up support such as the SPORLASTIC SWEDE-O-UNIVERSAL Ankle Support, with lacing and lateral reinforcement, is a good choice. For a moderate to severe sprain or an unstable ankle, a firmer orthosis such as the MALLEODYN® S3 Ankle Brace or the ARTHROFIX® AIR Ankle Orthosis gives more stability. For mild sprains and swelling, a compression bandage with pads such as the MALLEO-HiT® Ankle Bandage is usually enough.

If your problem is weakness in lifting the foot (foot drop) rather than an injury, a foot lifting orthosis such as the NEURODYN® CLASSIC Foot Drop Brace is designed for that purpose.

Comfort and fit

An uncomfortable brace is one you will not wear. Look for a brace that fits snugly but not too tightly, and that is easy to adjust, for example with the figure-8 straps on the SWEDE-O-UNIVERSAL X8 Ankle Brace. Measure carefully and use the size chart on the product page.

Material

Choose a breathable material that limits sweating, especially if you will wear the brace for long periods or during sport.

Buy ankle braces online from SPORLASTIC

SPORLASTIC has designed and made orthopedic supports in Germany for decades. Our ankle braces range from soft bandages to lace-up and stirrup braces, so you can find the right support for your injury and activity level.

Browse our full collection of ankle braces and supports, or see our guide to ankle braces for sprains. If you are unsure which brace is right for you, ask your physician or physiotherapist.