Ankle braces

I’ve not bothered my GP, I guess as I have enough other things going on with them, but also as I’m assuming there’s nothing they’d do as I’m not some star athlete and not in a position to go private.

well that’s a weird attitude

Maybe.... But I have a range of other issues I'm dealing with with a new GP and getting referred to new consultants for them in a new area. My GP has already commented 'wow, you've got quite a big file', so I thought I'd give them a break from more until we're up to speed with the rest.

I've never found one as good as a proper stirrup strapping. I learned to do it on a course run by the Reading FC physio for club level 'physios' (this was the early 90's where club level treatment was a bucket and magic sponge and maybe a can of cold spray for the sophisticated) - and I then used it for many years as a precaution.

Link is to a full stirrup, I used to do a half version so I still have mobility on the inside of the ankle. So instead of running up the inside of the leg I'd start the strapping on the fleshy bit just below the ankle bone (outside of ankle), across and under the foot and then up the side as in the video. And then I used to use stretchy tape over it, more latterly I use cohesive bandage as all that's really doing is holding the zinc oxide tape in place.

Get some gymnastic tape (the woven stuff sold in climbing shops), tear a piece about 20cms off and stick it from under your heel sideways up and over the ankle bone. It helps if you shave the hair off above the ankle bone. The tape doesn't stretch and will stop you from going over on your ankle. Doesn't interfere with socks and shoes and works really well.

I wear a mcdavid 199 for football. Leaves some flexibility but stops you doing real damage if you were about to sprain it properly. I wouldn't like to wear it for day to day purposes, but they might have something a bit more lightweight, they make tonnes of variants.

On the good side they last well and they go up to huge sizes.

Thanks, that really useful and something that's be worth it if I'm going out for a 'proper' walk, or maybe now while it's bad. I have some of that tape in the house.

I think I also need something I can just put on as and when though , like today when I just went for a wander a mile down the track from home and ended up down a bank, and then take off when I'm back home.

I have the same shit ankles from loads of sprains when younger and playing various sports.  I never rested them long anough and physio was unheard of.  I used to tape my ankles solid before matches by the time I got to uni.

I now have almost no proprioception in either ankle, so they can be over before I know what's going on; it's one of the main reasons I went back to cycling as my main/only sport

I think they've improved a bit latterly and haven't been on my arse for a good while

I have some lace-up 661 things somewhere.  They were quite effective but a right pain in the arse to get on/off or adjust

(adds:)  Just googled those McDavid and they look quite like the 661s

I had a bit of a problematic ankle years ago,  best exercise I got from the physio was standing on the one leg,  knee slightly bent,  eyes closed.  Balancing for a couple of minutes.  I citing m couldn't do more than a few seconds initially but soon got better and apparently it was about retraining my nerves/ brain to know the position the ankle was in properly.  I've not had trouble in about 3 decades done m since.   Give it a try.

My wife's just taped it up for now as per that video, so I'll have a look at those braces tomorrow. Ta 👍

Yeh, been doing the single leg balances and moving the other foot 'around the clock' fairly regularly like when waiting for the kettle to boil or brushing teeth for years, but it's never sorted it sadly.

with practise it's barely a 2 minute job, usually takes longer to lace my boots up afterwards. Of course the risk is that the supplementary taping / strapping means that you don't strengthen the joint so you have to do the exercises too.

And as you note, it's the little walk down to the shops where you don't bother and then roll it over!

Might be worth talking to a physio or sport therapist rather.

I (should) use an Aircast A60. Lightweight enough to fit inside riding shoes/boots, although the ankle bone 'cups' sometimes make it a tad not quite comfy enough. Figure if it's good enough for Andy Murray...

Those McDavid ones look quite interesting though - they look thinner than the Aircast around the boney bits.

Cheers, the aircast60 came up as one of the best for active use. That McDavid one says it is too, but I'm struggling to see past all those laces and grommets inside another laced up shoe/boot as being bulky.

I think I need to get new tape at this one is old and must have lost its sticky a lot as it half came off in the night. But as you say only took a couple of minutes to to do myself just now, and tbh feel I'm doing it more securely/tight in the stirrups myself.

Thinking I'll maybe go with the aircast...

I used an Aircast A60 when I used to play a lot of football and it stopped any issues I was having.

I did rely on it a bit too much though and didn't do the right amount of physio/training/balance exercises - now I no longer play football I have one ankle that feels a lot weaker/more unstable than the other.

See a physio, do the exercises, strengthen the ankle.

Hope you get it sorted.

I've got one of these hanging around from when I used to play volleyball - I  used a pair for a while, then stopped when my ankles were string enough without. I no longer play, it's going spare if you want it?

https://www.newegg.com/p/06D-0078-00005?Item=9SIA17P9EH5711&source=region

As mentioned before though, a brace is a temporary measure, you need to work on ankle strength

@nbt thanks for the offer, much appreciated, but I've ordered one of the aircast's now so I'll see how I get in with it.

Yeh I know about the strengthening and it's something I'll resume once this has settled.

I have been doing exercises for strength and proprioception, but I still get it literally popping out and in when I go over on it. The physio I saw years back just said the ligaments are over stretched. I'm pretty hyper mobile anyway in certain joints which doesn't help.

As I said, ironically it usually happens on unchallenging terrain. The other weekend I was clambering along coastal rocks and wave cut platform with no issue from my ankle (knee is a story), yesterday I went over on it and then down a bank for no good reason on a flat path 😭 I've literally been stood still to take a photo and turned around to walk off before and it's happened.

Thanks for all the advice and offers folk 👍

Let me know how the Aircast fits you - I was a bit put off by their large size being just UK size 9+ as I have big feet like you.

You're right about the McDavid adding bulk. I go up a size in my football boots to account for a sock underneath the support and then a football sock over the top, although I do wear Adidas boots which seem to be half a size smaller than every other brand.

I have ankle issues and despite 2 operations to try and fix ligaments and tendons it still plays up. I wear an aircast when needed and for cycling I use one of these - https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/661-race-brace-pro-ankle-support?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrfymBhCTARIsADXTabmInwaeYvUKq1Y6JJ0wKQGdwW4-iyTbGFIPPnvOKMkZv5eOW9dyio0aAi3aEALw_wcB#173=210

@t3ap0t the Aircast a60 has just arrived and it's a good fit for my size 13. Feels comfy too just in the house, I'm fairly sofa bound resting it up.