Do You Use Ankle Protection?

VBLIStaff · **Do You Use Ankle Protection? -** 07-28-2006, 11:33 AM

Do You Use Ankle Protection? The question is really what do you think of protect your ankles and your have use any type of braces?

BHitterDPasser · 07-28-2006, 12:25 PM

Maybe we should expand the poll to include one or both ankles...

VBLIStaff · 07-28-2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHitterDPasser

Maybe we should expand the poll to include one or both ankles...

Great idea, already fixed!

strazzere · 07-28-2006, 04:32 PM

While it may seem dumb, since i've rolled both ankles - I stop wear active ankles after they heal partially. I feel wearing them restricts me, and actually keeps my ankles weaker...

If i play in long tournaments I WILL tape my ankles since they get sore and what not.

Porbably should use protection 24/7 though, since my right ankle now swells no matter how lightly i play...

DougHillman · 07-28-2006, 06:07 PM

I played for 15+ years without any protection. As a setter I spouted the "limits my mobility" line as my defense for not wearing them, despite everyone around me, also not wearing them, getting injured.

3 months ago while blocking the goon on the other side came under, I came down on his instep, and suffered a Grade 3 sprain (the worst) with tibular ovulsions (the ligaments tore bone chips off as they seperated from the tibia).

I can't forsee ever playing again without that ankle braced. My doctors actually didn't think I'd be able to put weight on it for 2+ months, let alone be back on the court by the fall. I'm progressing well ahead of schedule (having missed the 2nd outdoor season in a row, but planning on being ready for indoor in the fall), but it's always going to be weak from now on.

Would Active's have prevented the injury? Yeah probably. Would they have transferred the injury up my leg and resulted in a blown knee instead of a broken ankle? It's possible, though not terribly likely. Is "they limit my mobility" really a valid excuse? Nah, not really. I've played with them on in the past and honestly, they don't affect you much - if at all. Even as a setter I was able to get around the court fine with them on. Not wearing them was more a matter of not wanting to hassle and the "stud" factor of going without protection.

I imagine that I'll be wearing Active's on both ankles next time I'm on the court. The constant thought of having to reach down and put my dislocated foot back into place again would probably be more limiting to me than any physical hinderance I could dream up for the braces.

In the sand next summer it'll be either tape or a wrap plus a sand sock.

D

NewEnglandRT · 07-28-2006, 07:49 PM

Sounds like you did a good job on that one.

I probably should wear one/some as i've partially torn some tendons there before and they get sore once in a while.

Mycena did some research and found out that taping is only truely effective for a few minutes after you tape. I don't know how good that info is, but hey... by the time you go through a dozen or so rolls of tape you'll have wished you bought a brace anway!

coachmanzi · 07-28-2006, 09:33 PM

Being a libero, you'd think i don't need ankle protection, but, I do. I get both ankles taped (no prewrap) before every practice and match. Kind of extreme, but I could still roll on a ball somehow....

BHitterDPasser · 07-29-2006, 05:45 PM

I'd imagine that you'd need a few layers of tape for it to be effective. I could do some analyses but it wouldn't fit on a napkin so I am going to forgo that for now.

strazzere · 07-29-2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewEnglandRT

Sounds like you did a good job on that one.

I probably should wear one/some as i've partially torn some tendons there before and they get sore once in a while.

Mycena did some research and found out that taping is only truely effective for a few minutes after you tape. I don't know how good that info is, but hey... by the time you go through a dozen or so rolls of tape you'll have wished you bought a brace anway!

Not sure a good tape job is only effective for the first few minutes....

I'd prefer a tape job over an active ankle - no rubbing, tighter... Feels more secure...

Plus i'd take a tape job to keep swelling down while playing, where the active ankle nearly promotes it since it's constantly moving over the ankle.

kvb · 07-29-2006, 11:00 PM

1 ankle, not an active ankle but a sweedo (i can't spell) ankle brace

I skip the brace for sand, but I always wear it on the grass courts. (Since my last vbli event anyway wear I managed to reinjure it just peppering.) Indoors it depends on the venue and the players.