Top Reasons to Wear an Ankle Brace

Do you have a weakened ankle due to a recent ankle surgery or injury? If you have undergone a surgery or suffered an injury involving one or both of your ankles recently, it’s important to explore the impactful benefits you can receive from an ankle brace. These devices can provide several worthwhile benefits for your improved health and wellness, including helping you to recover from any recent surgery or injury, and providing the increased stability you may need. Reliable stability is essential for recreational activities, including running and playing a range of sports, as well as many daily activities.

An ankle brace functions as a piece of orthopedic protective equipment that lends support, prevents injuries, and speeds healing. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the top reasons to wear an ankle brace for your ankle and/or heel pain, including using one as a plantar fasciitis treatment method and how to find the area’s best podiatrists without having to resort to typing in “foot doctors near me” into a search engine.

Top Reasons for an Ankle Brace

Composed of lightweight plastic, fabric, and occasionally metal components, modern ankle braces have the desirable ability to fit comfortably and easily around the affected area of your body. Some of these devices can fasten with velcro or laces and feature a degree of compression to effectively minimize swelling in your ankles. These and other devices work to keep your toes and given foot pointed forward, preventing extensive twisting or inward rotation in the affected ankle and foot. Ankle sprains can occur when you tear or stretch your tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue, and can result from a sudden rotation or twisting of a given ankle joint. You may be stepping off of a stair or curb, running on an uneven, bumpy surface, or engaging in another similar physical activity. 

When this or another affecting ankle injury occurs and you experience ankle and/or heel pain, there are many reasons to wear an ankle brace for your pain and healing. Some of the top reasons to consider using an ankle brace for healing and wellness include providing joint support, preventing further injuries, limiting the development of scar tissue, reducing the risk of developing arthritis, reducing both chronic and acute pain, and eliminating the presence or otherwise decrease the severity of various affecting conditions. 

Some of these affecting conditions include plantar fasciitis, as well as various fractures, sprains, ankle instability from obesity, poor balance, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, achilles tendonitis, gout, and a dysfunctional gait. A dysfunctional gait can involve a repeated inward rotation of your ankle joint or toeing in. You may also use an ankle brace to avoid or postpone an ankle replacement surgery or fusion needed for advanced arthritis or another condition.

Increased Joint Support

An ankle brace can provide impactful external support to limit certain motions, such as plantar inversion/flexion (movement in your ankle joint pointing the toe away and downward from the leg and turning the foot inward). It can also give increased awareness of where your ankle joint is in the space.

Further Injury Prevention

Some more reasons to wear an ankle brace include preventing an initial injury due to your daily or recreational activities, or a present medical condition that increases your likelihood of an ankle injury. You may also wear one to prevent a recurring injury by increasing support and awareness of the area.

Scar Tissue Development

Repetitive movements and overuse can cause scar tissue in your ankle. With an ankle brace, you can limit this development by avoiding overuse and excessive straining. Preventing scar tissue can also decrease pain and reduce the likelihood of developing other lingering issues, including recurring injuries and more.

Arthritis Risk Reduction

Physical trauma is one of the biggest causes of arthritis. By providing an added cushion to the ankle joint, you can prevent joint damage and thus reduce your risk for arthritis. In addition, reducing the number of and frequent engagement in high-impact activities can reduce your risk for arthritis.

Chronic and Acute Pain

Chronic ankle and/or heel pain can result from present instability in the given area or an existing medical condition that affects the ankle area. Acute ankle pain can result from a severe injury or other damage to the ankle area. You can prevent and otherwise reduce chronic and acute ankle pain by providing consistent stability, reinforcement, and cushioning.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Plantar fasciitis can be a debilitating condition, resulting from tears in the plantar fascia. Some common causes include foot pronation, general overuse, non-supportive shoes, and more. To reduce or prevent inflammation and burning or stabbing pain, you can consider an ankle brace for your plantar fasciitis treatment. It can support your arch during the day, relieve pressure, and keep your toes in place.

Other Medical Conditions

In addition to using an ankle brace for existing plantar fasciitis, you can also consider one for impactful prevention or otherwise decreased severity of achilles tendonitis, fractures, sprains, instability from obesity, poor balance, gout, and a dysfunctional gait. These braces provide reliable external support to prevent overuse, improper positioning, and more that can contribute to the development or worsening of these conditions.

Surgery or Fusion Postponement

With a quality ankle brace, you can also postpone or even avoid a possible ankle surgery or ankle fusion due to arthritis or another medical condition. Events such as overuse, recurring injuries, consistently improper support or positioning, and more can contribute to the earlier or overall need for surgery or fusion.

Foot Doctors Near Me

When you need healing and wellness for your ankle with an ankle brace by itself or in combination with other treatment methods, don’t resort to the inconsistent and unreliable results of typing in “foot doctors near me” and sifting through the endless options. Stop into the Foot and Ankle Specialists of Illinois today in the Algonquin area for true quality, professional care.