Ankle Braces
By Tim Wall, MS, ATC
Ankle Braces at JOI
There are a lot of reasons for Ankle Braces. But grabbing an over the counter brace at the drug store is not always the best option. It may seem easier and quicker, but it needs to have a few specific qualities and it needs to be sized for you.
Choosing the right ankle brace also depends on the purpose. Swelling in the ankle may require a different kind of brace than instability. Read on to learn about the best brace for the ankle.
Should I Wear an Ankle Brace After an Injury?
Ankle braces may be necessary after an injury to the ankle. The most common type of ankle injury is a sprain. Ankle sprains usually happen on the outside or lateral part of the ankle. They can occur on the inside or medial part, but this is less common. Click to learn about High Ankle Sprains or Syndesmosis Sprains
Lateral ankle sprains (most common) typically happen when the ankle is rolled under toward the inside. This can overstretch or tear fibers in the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The ligaments are there to connect the bones in the ankle but when they are sprained, the ankle can become unstable and loose. Besides pain and swelling, the loss of ankle stability can limit daily activity and leave the ankle vulnerable to further damage.
Wearing a brace after an ankle sprain can provide stability and protect the ankle from further damage while the ligaments heal. Ligaments can take longer to heal due to a lower blood supply. The ASO allows some people to return to daily activity and even some sporting activities while their ankle is still healing.
Best Ankle Braces
After a sprain, the experts at the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute typically recommend the ASO Ankle Stabilizer Brace for patients that need help with stability after an injury. The ASO is comfortable but sleek. It fits over a sock and inside a shoe. It allows a normal walking pattern and even allows running and direction changes.
Image of ankle brace
The ASO brace gives some compression to the ankle and foot, which can help with swelling. It also provides stability and support on the outside and inside parts of the ankle.
How Do You Put on an ASO Brace?
It’s easier to show you how to put on the ASO Brace. Watch this VIDEO to learn How to Put On An ASO Brace for the Ankle.
Do ASO Ankle Braces Help after a Fracture?
Typically, when there is a Ankle Fracture, weight bearing is limited for 4 to 6 weeks to allow the fracture to heal. A walking boot is typically used during that time to keep the foot and ankle in a neutral position and prevent movement.
Once the patient is cleared to start putting weight on the injured foot and ankle, they typically start walking in the walking boot. When range of motion increases and weight bearing becomes less painful, they are often progressed to an ASO ankle brace to completed the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Where Do You Get an ASO Ankle Brace?
ASO Braces are available at all of the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Rehabilitation sites. There are 12 Rehabilitation sites in the Northeast Florida area. Click HERE to Find A Site Near You. You can now go to physical therapy without seeing a doctor for 30 days. To read more, go to Direct Access to Physical Therapy.
You will need a prescription from a physician to get a brace from JOI. Insurance coverage varies and is dependent on insurance company approval.
Related Links:
JOI and JOI Rehab
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is a new option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
If you have an ankle or foot injury, or think you may need a ankle brace, the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute can help! To schedule an appointment with a JOI Ankle & Foot Specialist, call (904)JOI-2000, schedule online or click the link below. To see a JOI Rehab therapist in 1 of our 12 locations, call (904)858-7045.
A new option, you can now schedule and cancel follow-up appointments with your physician at the JOI Patient Portal.
Book An Appointment with a JOI Physician.
By: Tim Wall, MS, ATC