Ankle Supports for Tennis: Ace Your Game with This Comprehensive Guide

Ankle supports for tennis can reduce your risk of a sprain by 30% and help speed up your recovery by 30-40%. This can boost your confidence as well as your agility on the courts. If you are recovering from an injury or suffer from weak ankles, ankle support might be an ideal solution. Take care not to over-rely on ankle support without strengthening exercises, as this can cause weakening of the muscles.

How Ankle Support Keeps You in the Game

You might be playing a game one weekend a month or every chance you get. Having the right support can boost your confidence and make you a better player. The first time you wear ankle support for tennis, it might feel restrictive and more of a hindrance than help. However, when your ankles are locked in place, the stability boost can help you nail those fast direction changes. Let’s not forget that your balance will be better and your reactions will be quicker.

Find Your Perfect Match

When it comes to styles and preferences, ankle support has a lot of options, and choosing the wrong support can lead to an unpleasant experience. Let’s talk about the different options and what the pros and cons are for each one.

  • Compression Sleeves

Compression sleeves are good for mild issues and for the prevention of injuries. They are lightweight, and because they are soft and flexible, they allow full mobility. By applying gentle compression, compression sleeves help reduce swelling and relieve pain. One downside is that they do not provide rigid support, so they are not well-suited for severe injuries.

  • Lace-up Braces

Lace-up braces are an excellent choice for conditions like weak ankles, chronic instability, or later-stage injury recovery. They allow for adjustable comfort and support and provide a great deal of stability enhancement. There are models with removable stabilizers or straps for extra support. Lace-up braces can feel restrictive and bulky, but the support and stability they can provide are worth it for some.

  • Hinged/Semi-Rigid

Semi-rigid supports are typically used for post-injury recovery, especially for athletes in competitive sports like basketball, football, soccer, and other fast-paced high-impact sports. The hinges allow for natural movement of the joint while preventing the ankle from rolling. Because of all the extra support these supports provide, they are heavier, and you need to get used to them.

  • Rigid Support

Rigid support is most used during acute rehab because it provides the most lockdown to allow for healing. It prevents any movement of the joint, so it prevents any further damage to the joint. This type of support is not used for sports, so it should be used in the early stages of healing, and you want to be off your feet as much as possible during this phase.

Sizing Secrets So It Fits Like a Glove

You want the support to have the proper fit so that you get the benefits without discomfort. If it’s too tight, you might experience tingling or numbness. When it’s too loose, you lose the support and risk further damage. A good time to check for the right size is in the morning, before you put weight on the ankle joint. Swelling will be the least at this point, so this is the true size. Swelling will fluctuate throughout the day and can increase the ankle size by ½ inch or more.

Measuring Tips

  • Grab a flexible tape measure (or use a piece of string and a ruler) to find the circumference at the narrowest point. This will be about 1–2 inches above the ankle bone.

  • Wrap the measuring tape around the ankle so that it is snug but not tight. You want to get even pressure.

  • Check with the brace manufacturer's sizing chart. Some use shoe size as a proxy.

  • If you are dealing with chronic swelling, from arthritis or injury, measure in the morning and evening. If you want a snug fit, choose the lower measurement. If you want comfort for all-day wear, choose the larger evening measurement.

Consult a doctor or physical therapist for personalized advice if your swelling is severe or persistent. They might recommend choosing an adjustable or even a custom brace.

Your Action Plan to Recovery

We’ve covered compression sleeves, lace-up braces, braces with straps, semi-rigid, and rigid support. The right choice for you should be made by following your doctor's or physical therapist's advice and plan. The severity of the injury and your stage in the healing process will determine the right choice. We’ve provided some basic information to help you along the way; however, it is always best to seek professional advice. Check out this lace-up ankle brace with a removable side stabilizer that can be adjusted to fit our recovery plan.

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