Chronic Rolling of Ankles... (1 Viewer)

[Eviloutsider]

It seems like every other week while playing basketball, I am rolling my ankle. Does anyone have any supports/braces they would recommend to solve this issue? It only happens to my left foot after I really rolled it a year ago so now it turned into a reoccurring thing.

 

[coyote5]

http://www.rehabmedic.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/600x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/s/aso_ankle_brace.jpg

My ankle tendons are like the octomom's vajayjay. ASO braces worked pretty damn well for me.

 

[[icon]]

The canvas strap kind that laces up high, then has two Velcro straps that go down the ankle, ünder the foot, across diagnal and then back attaching to the side. I forgot the maker/name but I was given one by a physical therapist for a badly rolled ankle from HS lacrosse. Very stable.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Man I feel ya. I have the same problem. Not sure about you, but I'm pretty sure mine stemmed from me not listening to the people telling me to rest it properly after spraining it when I was younger. I would sprain it to the point where it swelled up huge and turned purple, then I'd be out there within a day or two playing basketball again. Problem is, every time you damage that ligament it heals back weaker.

Now, every time I go for a hike - every. single. time - I roll my ankle on my way down the mountain.

As far as support, I use a lace-up brace with hard plastic sides. It looks similar to this, except again, hard plastic sides. Those are key, any time I've used all fabric ones or wraps it's not been enough.

When I wear it, it works well. The problem is that it's a major PITA to put on (you have to unlace it all the way to get it on) and it's really awkward (difficult to fit anything aside from basketball shoes over it). I usually wear it for a while, then get tired of dealing with it and overconfident in thinking this time will be different, then sprain it again not long after giving it up. If you can keep up with it and wear it every time you play it might work for you.

 

[coyote5]

The canvas strap kind that laces up high, then has two Velcro straps that go down the ankle, ünder the foot, across diagnal and then back attaching to the side. I forgot the maker/name but I was given one by a physical therapist for a badly rolled ankle from HS lacrosse. Very stable.

Yep, that's the ASO one I linked.

 

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This: lace up with figure 8 wraps. Look at options and pick the best.

www.joycomfort.com/advantage-lace-up-ankle-brace-729.html

Stability without bulk of hard sides

 

[[icon]]

The canvas strap kind that laces up high, then has two Velcro straps that go down the ankle, ünder the foot, across diagnal and then back attaching to the side. I forgot the maker/name but I was given one by a physical therapist for a badly rolled ankle from HS lacrosse. Very stable.

Yep, that's the ASO one I linked.

yep once one of those is locked in your ankle is going nowhere.

 

[biggamer3]

I just rolled my ankle playing ball two weeks ago, felt horrible pain when it happened, like fire shooting from my ankle. Next day the thing swelled up and went to doctor to get an xray. No fracture, told me two weeks of rest/protection and no sports for 6 weeks. Now its two weeks later, dont feel any pain in ankle, was going to go back in gym since I feel fine, but posts like yours are scaring me from playing on it for another month.

 

[Eviloutsider]

So do I want the hard supports, seems like conflicting opinions on those.

 

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Hard supports didn't work for me. I found the ASO lace up / figure 8 style was more than enough support with less bulk and just enough play.

 

[coyote5]

Hard supports didn't work for me. I found the ASO lace up / figure 8 style was more than enough support with less bulk and just enough play.

this.

hard supports are just such a pain to use with hightops. Like Icon said, once you really lock those figure 8 wrap braces in, it's really really solid. Definitely try those first.

 

[TLEF316]

How old are you? Wearing braces makes your ankles weaker over time. Its just a stop gap. If you're an older guy just trying to stay on the court, but all means, strap up. But if you're younger and still have a decent amount of activity in front of you, I'd focus on strengthening exercises to try and fix the problem.

I had 2 REALLY bad left ankle sprains back in college. Did it once and could barely walk for 2 weeks (didn't help matters that I tried to tough it out with no treatment and had to walk a hilly campus). Went home for the summer and rolled it again even worse. (went in AND out coming down awkwardly on an outdoor court. I honestly thought it was broken) Then I had another one a couple of years later. Worst one I've ever had. 3/4 of my foot was black. It was then that I decided I was getting too old to deal with that crap, spent a few months in physical therapy and got it right again. I still roll it from time to time, but nowhere near as bad as I used to. Maybe its because its stronger. Maybe its because I'm older and not jumping as high as I used to. But knock on wood, I haven't turned it in a few years.

Some people just have genetically bad ankles. Others (like my dad) just sprain them so many times that there's no way back. But I'd exhaust all potential options before moving to a heavy brace.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

This is going to sound weird, but ballet is your best friend here. Assuming you haven't damaged your ankle, try pliés

and relevés. Place your feet the same width as your hips apart. Do kneebends slowly, keeping your knees in line with your feet. Alternate with standing on your toes. I gradually worked up to doing about 100 of these a day. It totally stopped the ankle issue. And you can do it in the prvacy of your own home. (Make sure you use something for balance.)

 

[Short Corner]

How old are you? Wearing braces makes your ankles weaker over time. Its just a stop gap. If you're an older guy just trying to stay on the court, but all means, strap up. But if you're younger and still have a decent amount of activity in front of you, I'd focus on strengthening exercises to try and fix the problem.

I had 2 REALLY bad left ankle sprains back in college. Did it once and could barely walk for 2 weeks (didn't help matters that I tried to tough it out with no treatment and had to walk a hilly campus). Went home for the summer and rolled it again even worse. (went in AND out coming down awkwardly on an outdoor court. I honestly thought it was broken) Then I had another one a couple of years later. Worst one I've ever had. 3/4 of my foot was black. It was then that I decided I was getting too old to deal with that crap, spent a few months in physical therapy and got it right again. I still roll it from time to time, but nowhere near as bad as I used to. Maybe its because its stronger. Maybe its because I'm older and not jumping as high as I used to. But knock on wood, I haven't turned it in a few years.

Some people just have genetically bad ankles. Others (like my dad) just sprain them so many times that there's no way back. But I'd exhaust all potential options before moving to a heavy brace.

Link? If true wouldn't taping do the same thing? Taping was mandatory when I played college ball.

 

[flapgreen]

This is going to sound weird, but ballet is your best friend here. Assuming you haven't damaged your ankle, try pliés

and relevés. Place your feet the same width as your hips apart. Do kneebends slowly, keeping your knees in line with your feet. Alternate with standing on your toes. I gradually worked up to doing about 100 of these a day. It totally stopped the ankle issue. And you can do it in the prvacy of your own home. (Make sure you use something for balance.)

Do you have to wear a pink skirt?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

This is going to sound weird, but ballet is your best friend here. Assuming you haven't damaged your ankle, try pliés

and relevés. Place your feet the same width as your hips apart. Do kneebends slowly, keeping your knees in line with your feet. Alternate with standing on your toes. I gradually worked up to doing about 100 of these a day. It totally stopped the ankle issue. And you can do it in the prvacy of your own home. (Make sure you use something for balance.)

Do you have to wear a pink skirt?

I don't judge. If you want to, go right ahead.

 

[TLEF316]

How old are you? Wearing braces makes your ankles weaker over time. Its just a stop gap. If you're an older guy just trying to stay on the court, but all means, strap up. But if you're younger and still have a decent amount of activity in front of you, I'd focus on strengthening exercises to try and fix the problem.

I had 2 REALLY bad left ankle sprains back in college. Did it once and could barely walk for 2 weeks (didn't help matters that I tried to tough it out with no treatment and had to walk a hilly campus). Went home for the summer and rolled it again even worse. (went in AND out coming down awkwardly on an outdoor court. I honestly thought it was broken) Then I had another one a couple of years later. Worst one I've ever had. 3/4 of my foot was black. It was then that I decided I was getting too old to deal with that crap, spent a few months in physical therapy and got it right again. I still roll it from time to time, but nowhere near as bad as I used to. Maybe its because its stronger. Maybe its because I'm older and not jumping as high as I used to. But knock on wood, I haven't turned it in a few years.

Some people just have genetically bad ankles. Others (like my dad) just sprain them so many times that there's no way back. But I'd exhaust all potential options before moving to a heavy brace.

Link? If true wouldn't taping do the same thing? Taping was mandatory when I played college ball.

Here's a link from a very quick google search.

3 of my best friends are licensed physical therapists. Obviously, my physical therapist is as well. They all say the same thing. Taping or a brace will help reduce the severity of an ankle injury, so when you're going all out in a game, it makes sense to tape or brace. However, your body has little muscles that are meant to provide support and stability. If you put a brace on them, those muscles don't get a chance to develop and get weaker over time.

College or pro teams don't want their guys getting hurt in the middle of a game. (which is why they might tell their players to tape or brace. I know certain D1 football teams require all their linemen to wear knee braces) But they do enough S&C work on non-game days (hopefully working these little stabilizing muscles) that it theoretically shouldn't hurt them long term.

 

[Short Corner]

How old are you? Wearing braces makes your ankles weaker over time. Its just a stop gap. If you're an older guy just trying to stay on the court, but all means, strap up. But if you're younger and still have a decent amount of activity in front of you, I'd focus on strengthening exercises to try and fix the problem.

I had 2 REALLY bad left ankle sprains back in college. Did it once and could barely walk for 2 weeks (didn't help matters that I tried to tough it out with no treatment and had to walk a hilly campus). Went home for the summer and rolled it again even worse. (went in AND out coming down awkwardly on an outdoor court. I honestly thought it was broken) Then I had another one a couple of years later. Worst one I've ever had. 3/4 of my foot was black. It was then that I decided I was getting too old to deal with that crap, spent a few months in physical therapy and got it right again. I still roll it from time to time, but nowhere near as bad as I used to. Maybe its because its stronger. Maybe its because I'm older and not jumping as high as I used to. But knock on wood, I haven't turned it in a few years.

Some people just have genetically bad ankles. Others (like my dad) just sprain them so many times that there's no way back. But I'd exhaust all potential options before moving to a heavy brace.

Link? If true wouldn't taping do the same thing? Taping was mandatory when I played college ball.

Here's a link from a very quick google search.

3 of my best friends are licensed physical therapists. Obviously, my physical therapist is as well. They all say the same thing. Taping or a brace will help reduce the severity of an ankle injury, so when you're going all out in a game, it makes sense to tape or brace. However, your body has little muscles that are meant to provide support and stability. If you put a brace on them, those muscles don't get a chance to develop and get weaker over time.

College or pro teams don't want their guys getting hurt in the middle of a game. (which is why they might tell their players to tape or brace. I know certain D1 football teams require all their linemen to wear knee braces) But they do enough S&C work on non-game days (hopefully working these little stabilizing muscles) that it theoretically shouldn't hurt them long term.

My PT told me it was an old wives tale, that unless you were wearing them 24/7, any weakening was insignificant. There have been no studies that I know of that confirm this one way or the other.

FTR, I have done my right once and my left 12-15x (stopped counting) including rupturing one of the ligaments 2 of the last 3 times. I can usually tell by the sound the ligament makes when it happens how severe it is better than my GP can.

 

[[icon]]

This is going to sound weird, but ballet is your best friend here. Assuming you haven't damaged your ankle, try pliés

and relevés. Place your feet the same width as your hips apart. Do kneebends slowly, keeping your knees in line with your feet. Alternate with standing on your toes. I gradually worked up to doing about 100 of these a day. It totally stopped the ankle issue. And you can do it in the prvacy of your own home. (Make sure you use something for balance.)

Do you have to wear a pink skirt?

I think maybe throwing in some curtseys would help too. Definitely do some of those.

 

[Timmay]

I would try some type of exercise to strengthen your ankles. You can try the ballet thing that Rannous mentioned or they have machines at gyms that strengthen your calf/ankles. I would do that on top of making sure you are always wearing high top basketball shoes that are tied up tight every time you play.

Ankle sprains do suck though, once you get one, they happen more and more frequent. I used to get them all the time playing basketball. Now I make sure I tie my high tops really tight and retie them about 2-3 times each game.