Ankle Brace??

[LivesToHike]

Thanks for the awesome info!

To everyone. Thanks for posting this information. I have a weak right ankle that I've aggravated this past winter - it's an old injury from a martial arts class mishap some 20+ years ago.

I'm going to look into the braces and try more of the exercises you've all suggested. Awesome info -thanks again!

--LTH

 

[SAR-EMT40]

I have had problems with my ankles since I was in High School. I stretched ligaments on one and broke the other and have had problems with pronation since. The thing I learned to do, aside from exercising them, and as stupid as it sounds I attribute it to having prevented serious injuries since and I have been doing this for years. My secret -- when I pronate my ankle. I fall right to the ground. I don't even try to hold myself up. I kid you not. It works for me. I have not had a serious injury to my ankle of any significance in years. I know it sounds weird but for me it works.

Keith

 

[Woody]

MEB,

Have you seen a specialist in sports medicine? You might have something going on in that ankle. Some doctors may not understand the level of the intensity of your hiking. Your injuries deserve the same attention as any other elite athlete. An MRI scan at a facility that has a lot of experience with sports medicine and muscular-skeletal injuries could make sure that you don't have some unknown soft tissue issue.

 

[skibones]

Do you hike with poles? If not, that might be something you'd want to consider. The poles will relieve a lot of stress from the ankles and knees. You might still turn an ankle from time to time but the poles would help temper the severity of the strain.

thanks,
denton fabrics

I agree--I always use two poles to hike, my balance isn't as great as it used to be and the poles do help.
I did rubber band exercises for a while just to strengthen the ankles. I guess I should start those again as a prophylactic measure( they'rre so boring though)

 

[Tom Rankin]

Hi All,

A long time ago I sprained my ankle real bad and since then it has always been prone to rolls, twists and pops. I've been to the doctors and they suggested several exercises to strengthen the area and techniques to work on balance. I do these but the ankles still gives way on occaision. I'm now considering the possibilty of getting some sort of ankle brace to help prevent this from happening. The doctor suggested a few, the kind that lace up, but I'm not sure how they wll work with hiking boots. My question is do any of you wear an ankle brace and if so which kind and how does it feel if you wear it with your boots.

-MEB

You might want to check out Active Ankle products, see here:

http://activeankle.com/

It worked very well for me! You might need to get a new pair of boots though. This kind of thing could be used as emergency gear for you instead of worn all the time.

I also stretch my ankles almost every day. Good luck!

(P.S. I also saw a sports rehab specialist)

 

[spaddock]

I too have an Active Ankle brace and I love it. It fits under my Montrail Torre GTX's no problem.

The AA design is based on taping, I prefer it over the more conventional Swedo lock.

Hiking, basketball, and ultimate are the only things I wear it for. I've heard some people say don't wear it you're ankle will start to rely on it.... I don't want to take the chance that I'm solo 10 miles from the car and sprain it again, I'll take that chance when I'm jogging around the local park.


-Shayne

 

[LivesToHike]

You might want to check out Active Ankle products, see here:

http://activeankle.com/

It worked very well for me! You might need to get a new pair of boots though. This kind of thing could be used as emergency gear for you instead of worn all the time.

I also stretch my ankles almost every day. Good luck!

Hey, thanks for posting this. I'm going to try this brace. I've replaced my both winter and summer hiking boots this year, as my older ones didn't offer enough ankle support. Hopefully this brace will still allow me to wear my existing boots...

Yeah, like you I rotate and stretch all my ankles, (& arms and shoulders) everyday too. I'm fortunate to not have any inflamation in my joints, but it runs in my family, so its better to keep moving...

--LTH

 

[LivesToHike]

I have had problems with my ankles since I was in High School. I stretched ligaments on one and broke the other and have had problems with pronation since. The thing I learned to do, aside from exercising them, and as stupid as it sounds I attribute it to having prevented serious injuries since and I have been doing this for years. My secret -- when I pronate my ankle. I fall right to the ground. I don't even try to hold myself up. I kid you not. It works for me. I have not had a serious injury to my ankle of any significance in years. I know it sounds weird but for me it works.

Keith

Keith. Not a bad idea. Like you, my right ankle gives out occasionally. Often for me when I cross some wet roots, talus, ice, etc at ann odd angle. More than often I don't fall, but sometimes I do. Regardless, I end up sore at the end of the day, after repeating the process 2, 3 or 4 times. I've so far avoided most injury across many years of hiking. I'm just noticing that my right ankle clicking more than it used to and probably giving way more often.

Also, since I've taken up winter hiking again, I'd like not to fall on certain steep slopes in the winter. As much as I like practicing self-arrest, I don't relish the idea of having to use it.

--LTH

 

[Iceman]

I've tried the ACE bandage and the Aircast, both bothered the arch of my foot enough to make it painful to walk. I wore the Aircast with sneakers while at work where I'm not on my feet that much and stayed off the trails until my ankle healed

 

[Tom Rankin]

... and ultimate are the only things I wear it for...

Ultimate rules! We'll have to get together and toss a disk some time. I played for about 28 years before hanging up my cleats. And it was Ulty that ruined my ankles!

 

[DougPaul]

My secret -- when I pronate my ankle. I fall right to the ground. I don't even try to hold myself up.

I use an abbrevieated form of this--whenever I feel that I am about to put weight on a twisted ankle, I simply unweight the foot and quickly move to the other foot. (A bit like a skiier unweighting a ski.) I can usually do it in stride so it just looks like a stumble. Saves bruising the "backup landing gear"...

Doug

 

[SAR-EMT40]

I use an abbrevieated form of this--whenever I feel that I am about to put weight on a twisted ankle, I simply unweight the foot and quickly move to the other foot. (A bit like a skiier unweighting a ski.) I can usually do it in stride so it just looks like a stumble. Saves bruising the "backup landing gear"...

Doug

I can sometimes get away with this but usually this happens as all my weight is shifting to the ankle that is pronating. And at my age my "backup landing gear" is probably sturdier, and certainly larger, than my full time gear anyway.

Keith

 

[Double Bow]

Interesting thread. I rolled my ankle badly on Memorial Day Weekend (the same one I sprained 6 years ago) and it's still bothering me a bit. I've hiked on it each weekend since then without issue but, when I rotate my ankle, it clicks and in general, it feels weak.

Does this sound like something I should talk to my doctor about or can I expect this to get better on its own?

 

[SAR-EMT40]

I think a lot of peoples joints click sometimes but if this is something new to you, after an injury, you should probably have a doc look it over. IMHO

Just as a sidebar. When you roll your ankle, which likely causes a sprain or strain. RICE it. The time you spend doing that will save you lots of recovery time on the other side. Immediately, get off of it (Rest), put Ice or cold water soaks from a stream, put a Compression bandage on it and Elevate it. I'm sure most know this but it is probably worth repeating. The longer and more effective your RICEing of the joint the much faster the recovery. I have not only seen this on people I have treated, but on myself as well.

Keith

 

[Lawn Sale]

I think a lot of peoples joints click sometimes but if this is something new to you, after an injury, you should probably have a doc look it over. IMHO

Just as a sidebar. When you roll your ankle, which likely causes a sprain or strain. RICE it. The time you spend doing that will save you lots of recovery time on the other side. Immediately, get off of it (Rest), put Ice or cold water soaks from a stream, put a Compression bandage on it and Elevate it. I'm sure most know this but it is probably worth repeating. The longer and more effective your RICEing of the joint the much faster the recovery. I have not only seen this on people I have treated, but on myself as well.

Keith

You do realize this is MEB that started the thread? I don't think "Rest" is in her dictionary...

Do like I did 2 years ago with my elbow injury...I went to the doc and said, "Fix it or cut it off, because it's of no use to me as-is." Today it's back to better than normal after only one surgery and some rehab.

All kidding aside, definitely see a sports doctor about it, they're amazing. I have several of the ankle braces, the lace up, gel filled (hot or cold), and air cast, but I wouldn't hike in any of them. I'd also be wary of the slip on ones cutting off circulation or causing blisters.

 

[jade]

When I played rugby (you know, that sport that is waaay tougher than hockey), I used to tape my cleats right to my feet and up my ankle....it really worked and didn't interfere with getting my cleats on...

SAR-EMT40....what would you do if you were falling toward DougPaul's avatar?

...jade

 

[SAR-EMT40]

SAR-EMT40....what would you do if you were falling toward DougPaul's avatar?

...jade

Learn how to fly.

Keith

 

[DougPaul]

SAR-EMT40....what would you do if you were falling toward DougPaul's avatar?

Learn how to fly.

Slurp!

Or at least learn how to jump over small alligators in a single bound.

Actually, that one was fairly small--could have grabbed an arm or a leg, though...

Doug