HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ANKLE BRACE
The perfect ankle brace for you will depend on your needs, but luckily there are a variety of options available for all use cases.
- Comfort: Make sure you select the correct size and material for your ankle brace, consider how breathable you want the brace to be
- Frequency: Depending on your needs, you may wear your ankle brace for a short period of time or all day
- Type of Ankle Brace: Sleeves, braces with straps and lace up ankle braces all provide varying levels of support, protection and compression
- Tightness: Take time to adjust your ankle brace to not be too loose or too tight, it may take several adjustments but getting a perfect fit is critical
CHOOSING THE MOST COMFORTABLE ANKLE BRACE
Ankle braces provide excellent support, but a brace that fits poorly or utilizes the wrong material may end up being uncomfortable. To make sure your ankle brace is as comfortable as possible, think about the below:
- Proper Fit: Ankle braces are typically sized based on your shoe size or ankle circumference, so be sure to consult the sizing chart to get your best fit and support
- Neoprene vs Fabric: Neoprene is a flexible material, allowing for a close fit to the body and providing both support and heat insulation for protection against ongoing pain. However, neoprene does not breathe well and may be too hot for all day use. Fabric and knit materials will usually breathe easier, keeping your feet cool but without the therapeutic heat of neoprene
WHEN SHOULD I WEAR AN ANKLE BRACE?
- Ankle braces can be used in a variety of situations, from everyday activity to high intensity sports. If you experience regular ankle pain from tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis or just general pain, an ankle sleeve with primary protection and compression can help soothe pain. When playing sports, an ankle brace is an excellent tool to help prevent future injury or re-aggravate an old injury. Also, when recovering from ankle surgery, ankle braces help to keep the ankle supported and limit movement to aid in the recovery process.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST knee brace
A knee brace is designed to:
- Prevent injury
- Support the knee (patella, muscles and ligaments) by providing compression, warmth and stabilization
- Protect the knee following an injury and prevent further damage
- Improve performance
- Prevent the knee from over-extending after a surgery or an injury
What type of knee braces do I need?
Stabilisers/Braces:
Knee Stabilisers are designed to provide more comfortable protection and support by using dual metal springs on the sides which creates an advanced lateral and medial support along with warmth and compression.
- weak/sore muscles and joints
- a slight knee instability
- an arthritic knee conditions
Supports:
Knee supports don’t offer strong support like hinged and stabilizer braces, however, they do offer an overall support which allows you to have a flexible range of motion in addition to compression and warmth perfect for nearly-recovered injuries and little niggles! They also help you “feel” your knee, which makes you more aware of how your knee behaves.
Buy this type if you’re:
- Using it for everyday activities like walking/running
- Going through the later stages of recovery from cartilage or knee ligament injuries from mild arthritis
- Experiencing mild patella tendonitis
Sleeves:
Unlike other knee brace types, a knee sleeve is mainly used to prevent an injury rather than to recover from one. It provides the least amount of support but a good amount of compression to keep your knee stable during intense activities. A sleeve is worn by sliding it over to your knee and it’s sometimes equipped with a knee pad for extra protection.
Buy this type if you’re:
- Suffering from light knee pain
- Looking to prevent progressive tendonitis
- Recovering from inflamed tendons injury
- Looking to promote better blood flow
- Looking to reduce direct strain on the knees during intense workout, jogging or hiking activities
Straps:
Knee straps offer compression to the tendons around your knee and are designed to distribute any tension applied on it during different kinds of movements (running, hiking, weightlifting, etc.)
Buy this type if you’re:
- Looking to relieve regular knee pain/swelling
- Suffering from IT band syndrome
- Suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee)
- Suffering from patellar tendonitis
