high tops or a brace/wrap?

Hightops sure help. You may need to brace/wrap it up, too...

I'd start with the cheaper alternative first. Wrap it and then ride. If that doesn't work well then invest $20 on a ankle 661 brace. If you need MORE support then some new shoes will do.

Wrapping it before each ride is cumbersome. I'd go straight for the brace.

I wore a brace like the 661 pictured above for the first couple of rides after I broke my leg. My ankle and leg were weak from being in a cast for 6 weeks. The $20 is a bargain compaired to the price I paid for the doctor prescribed version. My bace as metal strips that can be slid into it for extra support if needed.

I also wore a similar brace when I was playing college volleyball. I would roll my ankle at least once a season when I landed on someone's foot resulting in an ankle the size of a watermellon. The braces help a lot. However, they can be uncomfortable in your shoe so make sure to wear it before you go to ride. You may have to modify the foam insole or wear different socks to make it comfortable under your foot. Don't lace it up too tight or your foot will get the blood cut off.

I wore a brace for 2 years after breaking/dislocating my ankle. I FINALLY stopped wearing it after getting a set of high top 5.10's. It's so nice to not lace that thing up EVERY ride. I really feel like I am getting almost the same amount of support just wearing the 5.10's.

my ankle feels complely exposed and vunerable when not wearing hi tops. I have ankle problems too but as long as the hi tops are laced up correctly i find its ok, ive never tried the brace.

I like my high tops. The comfort, they look better than the lows (by far), and they help avoiding hits to the ancle. But as far as support, I'd get the 661 like quick if I were you, and don't forget to go to the fysio. They'll help you work up some muscles around therem, so in a year you might not need the brace.

wiscodh said:

Thanks for the help all. I knew others had screwy ankles like me. One would think that after 20 some odd years of hockey they would be stronger than this.

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I felt the same with 9 years of soccer. Just seemed to make things worse haha

I've broken both my ankles mutliple times from skateboarding and biking. They're both very easy to sprain now. I've also tried just about every brace out there. Nothing 661 makes works very well in my opinion. They just don't immobilize your ankle enough, especially if you've already got a sprain you're trying to protect.

http://www.ankleshop.com/proddetail.asp?prod=206XX

These are by far the best I've used. They've got a plastic exoskeleton thing on the outsides and rigid canvas cross straps (the 661s I have are elastic....pretty much useless). You can literally almost completely immobilize your ankle with these if you need to.

i use a McDavid ankle brace, just like kidwoo's brace posted but it also has an additional top strap that wraps around the top of the ankle as well...

my 5:10 rennie high tops saved my ankles life twice for sure i will never not ride high tops. I use a air cast ankle brace when i need some extra support

I just got an ACE that looks like KidWoo's recommend without the strap (if you look at the bottom of his link.)

I had a silly eSpat with someone a few years back who recommended this really nice L/R specific, but production, brace. In hindsight I would love to recall the brand -- search didnt help, but it got me here!

So McDavid? Ossur/Royce? Other recommends?

My right ankle has been sprained/torn several times and is pronbably heading or surgery after the season to restore the shredded lig(s) as much as poss - but I need stability now!

Help!

(And yes, I ALWAYS ride in high tops -- no -- lies, my DX are mid, but I use them for DJ -- w/e -- Vicodin makes ADD even worse -- la la la la la)

High top shoes don't offer much ankle support. Using any brace will make you ankle weaker since the joint doesn't need to work as hard thanks to the brace. You should see a physical therapist to work on strengthening you ankle so you don't need a brace. I played collegiate volleyball and have sprained both my ankles numerous times. Wearing high tops never helped. Every time I hurt it the trainers would wean me off the tape ASAP. The exercises were painful but they helped a ton. Try spelling the alphabet with your big toe. Make the letters as large as possible.

Nagaredama said:

High top shoes don't offer much ankle support. Using any brace will make you ankle weaker since the joint doesn't need to work as hard thanks to the brace. You should see a physical therapist to work on strengthening you ankle so you don't need a brace. I played collegiate volleyball and have sprained both my ankles numerous times. Wearing high tops never helped. Every time I hurt it the trainers would wean me off the tape ASAP. The exercises were painful but they helped a ton. Try spelling the alphabet with your big toe. Make the letters as large as possible.

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PT wont help - way too far gone; I am home fresh from the orthopedic surgeon so this is confirmed. I will need support to finish out the season without constant reinjury, then there will be surgery and PT. Blah details, blah info, blah blah, blah oww...

I will probably always use a brace for 'crazy unpredictable biking, but not for BBall or otherwise (once 'fixed')

as for the alphabet - I can practically draw a sphere with my increased 'range of motion' (Boy do I love single quotes).

I will keep your advice in mind as I recover tho - compensation can evolve into dependency!!

a lace up brace is the best protection from spraining i have found that doesn't get in the way. It also doesn't really support your ankle as much as it will limit the movement when you twist it wrong. Mine has kept me from seriously injuring a bad ankle many times.