Ankle injuries are among the most common in all sports, but with the right ankle protection for football, ballers can significantly reduce their risk of injury. Today, we’ll talk about why and how ankle protection for football work as a good prevention, and what kind of ankle guards can help you.
Ankle Protection For Football
1. Why Is Ankle Prone to Injury?
Our ankle is stabilized by ligaments on the outside (lateral) and inside (medial) of the joint. However, the lateral ligaments, particularly the anterior Talo-Fibular ligament (ATFL), are more commonly injured. When the foot is forcefully inverted (turned inward), the lateral ligaments can stretch or tear, resulting in a sprained ankle.
Just like we discussed with the ACL, the ankle joint is not inherently stronger than the knee joint. Both joints are comprised of several elastic and resilient cartilages and ligaments. In our daily lives or during low to moderate-intensity activities, these joints provide ample protection for supporting, standing, and even turning, preventing wear and tear on our bones. However, during intense high-impact sports, these ligaments may be torn by short, high-intensity impacts, leading to injury.
2. How Ankle Protection For Football Help your Ankle
Influenced by modern medicine, ankle football protectors typically consist of several components -- Ankle Braces and Taping. These straps can simulate the effects of ankle ligaments, as if providing your ankle with additional external ligaments. As a result, the originally strong joint impact will not exceed the maximum load-bearing capacity of your ankle ligaments.
In addition, to avoid restricting ankle flexibility while securing the ankle, most modern ankle protection for football utilizes breathable, moisture-wicking materials that provide compression and support to the ankle joint. This has the benefit of maximizing ankle joint flexibility while ensuring that the rough texture of the protector does not affect comfort, thereby avoiding limitations on players' on-field performance.
3. What Kind of Ankle Protection For Football
Considering the wide variety of ankle protectors available on the market, with different designs and materials, footballers may find it challenging to choose the best one for preventing ankle injuries. Therefore, we will recommend several excellent ankle protectors for you.
- For athletes who have experienced severe ankle injuries or are in the recovery phase
We understand the pain of lying in bed or watching from the sidelines as teammates score, run, and celebrate on the field, while we are unable to join them. However, our ankles are precious, and ankle ligaments are very fragile. Therefore, if we have suffered a severe ankle injury or are still in the recovery phase, it's crucial to give our ankles more time to rest. When the ankle no longer feels pain during light jogging, we can wear ankle protection for football that provides strong protection, stretching force, and firm support for recovery training.
Ankle protectors like Aircast or Zamst utilize straps and plastic stabilizers to effectively prevent sprains and ankle rollover, providing sufficient ankle support for those still in the recovery phase. However, they also come with significant drawbacks. Due to their strong fixation and support, these protectors may to some extent limit joint flexibility. However, flexibility is not our primary concern during the recovery phase; recovery and safety are. You can choose ankle protectors with similar designs based on your budget.
- For players who prioritize injury prevention:
If you happen to experience ankle discomfort or care about ankle joint protection, we believe that choosing a protector that provides ligament protection without compromising your performance is a wise choice. This Enpowerband protector, fixed to both the ankle and the shoe, ensures ankle flexibility while providing adequate protection and cushioning for the ligaments.
