Ankle Injuries: Overview
Ankle injuries are common in high-contact sports and other intense physical activities. Activities involved in running, jumping, repetitive movements of the foot, and side to side movements can cause ankle injuries. The most common sports that become the reason for ankle injuries may include football, success, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and others. As well as this, some traumatic conditions, such as falling, colliding with other opponents, and road or vehicle accidents, can cause ankle injuries.
There are several types of ankle injuries; however, an ankle sprain is the most common injury. It is estimated that ankle sprain makes up 25% of all sports-related injuries. The symptoms of ankle injuries depend upon the conditions. However, the most common symptoms of ankle injuries may include pain, soreness, tenderness, swelling, walking inability, restricted range of motion, and more. This article is a detailed account of common ankle injuries. You can find the causes and symptoms of the most common ankle injuries, helping you prevent the chances of injuries. As well as this, you can get a complete idea of how ankle braces or supports help treat the symptoms associated with ankle injuries.
What are the common ankle injuries
The following are the most common ankle injuries that occur in sportspersons. These ankle injuries may also occur in people involved in an occupation requiring the repetitive movements of the ankle or foot.
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Ankle sprain
An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that support the ankle. The injury occurs when these ligaments are overstretched or overextended beyond their limits. Several reasons can cause an ankle sprain. For example, you are stepping into the hole, twisting the ankle while walking or running, and putting your weight down awkwardly on your feet. However, some other repetitive movements or traumatic conditions may also cause an ankle sprain. The common ankle sprain symptoms may include pain, soreness, swelling, trouble bearing weight, walking inability, and bruising.
How do ankle braces help with an ankle sprain?
Ankle supports help you in a variety of ways. For example, if you are a professional athlete or sportsperson, wearing ankle braces help you prevent overuse injuries. As well as this, wearing ankle braces helps immobilize your ankle, allowing restrict unnecessary movements. It will help you control further injury or disease. Ankle supports or braces also help provide necessary support and compression to improve the recovery process. Experts also suggest wearing ankle supports after surgery to help promote healing.
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Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of plantar fascia – a thin and long ligament that lies directly on the bottom of your foot and beneath the skin. This ligament helps connect the heel to the front of your foot, supporting the arch of your foot. Plantar fasciitis may result from a number of factors, including foot structure, overuse, types of footwear, types of the walking surface, and others. People involved in long-distance running, dancing, aerobic dance, and other high-contact sports are at a high risk of plantar fasciitis.
The leading symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain. However, some other symptoms may include pain at the bottom of the heel, pain in the foot arch, swollen heel, and tight Achilles tendons.
How do ankle braces help with plantar fasciitis?
Experts suggest wearing ankle braces to help with plantar fasciitis. Wearing ankle supports helps provide gentle compression to your plantar fascia, helping support your ankle and foot arch throughout the day. They also help relieve stress on the plantar fascia, helping reduce heel pain and promote healing.
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Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury to the Achilles tendons. Achilles tendons are the band of tissues helping connect the calf muscles at the lower leg to your heel bone. The problem most commonly occurs in the runners who suddenly increase their practice or duration of running.
As well as this, people involved in other high-contact sports may also develop Achilles tendinitis. Some traumatic conditions may also cause Achilles tendinitis. The common symptoms of Achilles tendonitis may include pain in the heel, stiffness, swelling, warmth, and difficulty standing up on the toe.
How do ankle braces help with Achilles tendinitis?
Ankle braces help reduce the risk of injuries during sports and other intense physical activities. However, they are also considered effective tools to treat the symptoms of Achilles tendinitis. For example, Ankle supports help provide compression to the injured areas, increasing circulation to the tendons. The improved blood circulation helps reduce pain and swelling around your ankles.
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Stress Fracture
A stress fracture is a small crack in the foot or ankle bones or severe bruising within the bones. Most often, ankle stress fractures are caused by repetitive activity and overuse. Runners and other athletes with running-intensive sports, including basketball and soccer, are at high risk of the ankle stress fracture.
The common symptoms of ankle stress fracture may include pain (associated with physical activities and diminished during rest), swelling (on the outside of the ankle or top of the foot), tenderness, possible bruising, and more.
How do ankle braces help with a stress fracture?
Ankle braces are considered the best devices to immobilize your fractured ankle. Immobilization helps stop the unnecessary movements of the ankles, helping restrict further damage. Some ankle braces also help you speed up recovery from a stress fracture. As well as this, they also help prevent re-injury.
Buy the best ankle braces
Our discussion is concluded with an account that wearing ankle support or braces helps in a variety of ways. For example, wearing ankle supports helps avoid injuries during running and other high contact sports.
As well as this, they also help provide your ankles with needed support and compressions, helping speed up the recovery process following an ankle injury. Wearing ankle support after surgery can also help promote healing. The only thing you need to know is the right size and type of ankle braces. Remember that wearing the wrong size and type of ankle braces can be more harmful than good. 360 Relief provides you with a range of the best ankle braces to choose from according to your needs.