You are one awkward ankle twist away from pain. If you’re engaged in high-intensity sports activities like basketball or running, you know sprains come with it. Athletes who have experienced it will nod in silence. They know how painful it gets, and it’s a drag when it happens.
Preventing ankle sprain should be top on the list for those who move intensely—it can happen in the heat of the moment when you’re at your peak performance. When it does, you’ll plunge instantly and be thrown off your game. So, stock up on these top ankle braces for sprained ankles, and be sure to wear them to prevent or treat ankle sprains.
Z Athletics’ Foot and Ankle Support Brace
Z Athletics produces premium ankle and knee products for trail runners. Their ankle brace empowers running athletes to pursue their desire to exceed and reach the top. But due to its effectiveness in treating ankle sprains, the demand overflowed. It caught the attention of athletes outside the running discipline as well as people who take on life’s daily challenges one errand at a time.
Product Features:
Support that lasts – Double-stitched seams mean double the strength. Zenith Athletics’ ankle brace can take the beating whether you’re running a marathon or walking down the road. The support it gives will last until you don’t need it.
A strong set of base materials – Nylon and neoprene is a tough combination suited for a high-performing ankle brace product. Each of these materials tops one another. Strength on strength. Yet, these materials are gentle to your foot, giving you comfort on top of comfort, too.
Effective fusion of ankle brace designs - Strap and lace-up are two separate yet effective designs adopted by most ankle braces. So it makes sense to combine these two for maximum effect, giving you more stability but also freedom in your movement range.
Treats more than ankle sprains – Zenith Athletics is excellent when it comes to treating sprains, but its benefits extend to other foot and ankle ailments such as strains, arthritic pain, tendonitis, and ankle injuries.
What to Enjoy:
The brace’s Versatility. The Z Athletics ankle brace has a wide range of use in the field of sports.
What to watch out for:
The Velcro straps. With frequent use, the adhesive may weaken, so best to look after the sticking part by cleaning it frequently of debris or hems.
Med Spec ASO High-Ankle Sprain Brace
Another brand that built a reputation as the best ankle brace for a sprain is Med Spec. Their ankle sprain product is positioned on the medical side and gives you the treatment benefits coming from the perspective of medical specialists.
The Med Spec ASO suits everyone who suffers an ankle sprain. And their ankle brace elevates the product with subtle feature additions that give a massive impact on your sprain treatment.
Product Features:
Can be used on both feet – One ankle brace fits your left and right foot. So putting it on becomes a no-brainer. It’s time-saving and convenient.
Tightly stitched – Med Spec’s stitches are sewn tightly with small gaps that hold down the ankle brace’s fabrics strongly.
Nylon material – Wear-resistant and strong; that’s what defines nylon. This material makes the product last long and retains its thickness over time. As a result, there will be no holes or tears on your ankle brace.
Coolflex technology – Adding a tongue foam in the middle multiplies the comfort the Med Spec brace brings to users. It’s designed to have breathable padding to keep your foot and ankle fresh and dry.
Elastic cuff strap – The Velcro is fitted with an elastic strap that allows you to set your own degree of tightness. This takes off the discomfort of having to adjust to a single size that’s too tight or too loose.
What to enjoy:
The cooling technology. This feature feels cozy on your ankles. It won’t itch because of the padding, and it lets enough air in to prevent excessive and uncomfortable sweating.
What to watch out for:
Wearing shoes with braces. For the ankle brace to fit well, you must choose footwear with a broader size or adjustable ones.
3M Futuro Sprained Ankle Brace (CVS and Amazon)
If you’re looking for something lighter and leaves more room for movement, the 3M Futuro stabilizing brace is a good match. This ankle stirrup acts more like a sprain prevention tool.
It uses light materials to keep your ankle and foot muscles compressed and heated. At the same time, it also provides enough muscle and joint restrictions that prevent overextension, causing sprains. Truly it’s a product you can use for high-intensity sports activities.
Product Features:
Heat retention – This ankle stirrup brace is made of heat-trapping materials. Thus giving your muscle improved blood circulation and conditioning for intense activities.
Sweat-resistant – The inner material is designed to repel sweat, so your ankles and feet feel dry and comfortable during and after wearing the ankle stirrup. And when sweat is repelled, so does odor.
Personalized compression – 3M’s Futuro is designed with two internal wrapping straps and an external one for customized foot and ankle muscle compression, whether in or out of your shoes.
Ease up as you do – When you use the sprained ankle brace to reduce pain, it stays tight when your muscle is weak, but as you recover, it loosens up to allow your muscle the range of movement it’s capable of doing while keeping your muscles compressed to avoid reinjury.
What to enjoy:
Restricts ankles but allows movement. The semi-rigid brace prevents your ankles from moving too much, yet it feels like putting on a performance-enhancing ankle bandage that taekwondo martial artists or kickboxers use.
What to watch out for:
Range of tight adjustments. Watch out if you intend to use this product for intense injuries that need more stabilizing and restrictive power because it encourages gradual easing of movement.
Our Top Ankle Sprain Brace: Z Athletics
Z Athletics got our vote among the three brands. That’s because most of the time, it’s athletes who have a higher risk of getting ankle sprains. But, on the other hand, we also want a product that can be used by non-athletic people as well and is not limited to preventing and treating sprains. Z Athletics captures that need exactly how we want it: a brand dedicated to serving the needs of both athletes and those outside its intended demographic.
If you want to see more brands like Z Athletics take the spotlight, explore our website. You’ll find shortlists of recommended brands as well as in-depth reviews of foot care products. So feel free to look around and find the information you need to get exactly the product you want today.
July 29, 2022
