<p>Does anyone have any recommendations for a good ankle brace for volleyball players? It wasn’t a bad sprain, but it is occasionally bothering her, and it seems like it would be better for D to be wearing a brace to prevent tweaking it again.</p>
<p>I sprained my ankle two years ago this month, and later found a hairline fracture which took a few months to heal. While I generally get around quite well, I was concerned about a hiking vacation in Peru we’re scheduled to take later this year, and searched around for a lightweight ankle brace I might wear for support. I found [Active</a> Ankle](<a href=“http://www.activeankle.com/]Active”>http://www.activeankle.com/) recommended by competitive orienteering participants around here, who race through the woods to find checkpoints and have lots of unstable ground to cover, so they need support and light weight. I don’t know if their needs are similar to your daughter’s, but you may want to look into this brace. I just bought one but have not had a chance to try it out yet, I expect to start using it this coming week.</p>
<p>[Active</a> Ankle](<a href=“http://www.activeankle.com/]Active”>http://www.activeankle.com/)</p>
<p>I agree that the Active Ankles are what you need. My two daughters both play volleyball, school and club ball – they (and most of their teams) have worn the AA’s for years, and they really seem to do the trick. We got them after my older daughter’s teammate rolled an ankle and ended up on crutches for a month.</p>
<p>My DD sprained her ankle spring of grade 11, the physio told her it would take a full year for those ligaments to fully heal and instructed her how to tape herself. She taped her ankle for every game and every practice as a three sport athlete, and travel team player, and was able to play. One time at a practice she was running late and did not tape, she rolled her ankle very quickly. The ligaments are loosened in a sprain, they are not able to do their job, the tape does the job whilst they heal. </p>
<p>Think of them like the plastic thingy that holds a 6 pack, stretched out and slow to revert to the old shape… If it is a serious sprain this could work</p>
<p>somemom, I’ll tell you it is a debated subject whether ankle braces are better than tape or vice versa… Personally I prefer tape. One benefit of the brace, though, is it is not a ‘consumable.’ The brace can be used over and over again.</p>
<p>I’ve seen many college players (of various sports) who wear a brace. In sports such as football, basketball, and volleyball college athletes are nearly required to wear an ankle brace or tape all the time.</p>
<p>One thing to make sure is that you don’t get a brace that is too preventative. Too stiff… </p>
<p>If you have an ankle brace that prevents all movement of the ankle, you increase the risk of a knee injury. We had a girl at my school tear her ACL a couple years ago because of that.</p>
<p>My D also had a couple of braces and the day she rolled her ankle again was when she slapped on the brace skipping the tape. It may also depend on each person’s body. Good point about moving the point of stress to the knee being problematic.</p>
<p>This is the one I’ve seen used by athletes at my high school… [ACTIVE</a> ANKLE® AS-1 Ankle Support](<a href=“Sports Recovery & Athletic Training Supplies | Medco Sports Medicine”>Sports Recovery & Athletic Training Supplies | Medco Sports Medicine)</p>
<p>As you’ll see by looking at the link, the brace has a strap to simulate part of the tape job…</p>
<p>Okay, thanks for all the input.</p>