Ankle Braces

[BJesus]

It was actually an australian orienteer who recommended this brace too me and I think they know what they are talking about....

you would think so wouldnt you.....

thanks for everyones suggestions, has given me a few ideas. And some sites to check out. Active Ankle does seem like a good bet though. Have managed to borrow one today to try out. Does it not fill up you shoe with water when you run thru marshes though? very lightweight, but takes up a little room

[Pippa]

Hi BJ,
Yes, indeed I use an Active Ankle T2 like Mhairi. I've used it whenever I've run in terrain since I got it, gives you support to stop you going over on your ankle but doesn't otherwise restrict movement. Very occasionally get a small blister on my instep but easily solved with some tape there to stop rubbing. This is probably cos I've got tiny 3 1/2 feet so my shoes are quite small!

I've never had a problem with my shoes filling up with water (more than usual...). It looks like it'll take up room, but you honestly can't feel it at all if it's on properly. Put it in your shoe first, make sure it's pushed as far back towards the heel as possible, then pop you foot in, do up the straps, then lace you shoe. You won't be able to lace your shoe quite as tight as normal, but the shoe won't feel any looser on your foot. Experiment a bit on a gentle training run. Don't need to tape first.

This is the main type I've seen other elites wearing and never heard a bad word about them. Got mine mail order from the States, just google.

Good luck, hope the ankle's safely on the mend, take your time, and looking forward to seeing you in the forest soon.

Pippa

P.S. Yes, Graeme, get a brace. If you're gonna go over on your ankle you'll rip through tape, with a brace your pretty invincible. 'Brace' makes it sound tight and restricting, but I never even notice I'm wearing it until I try to fall over.

[Dave S]

Just to mention, although ankle braces are great to prevent injury of an especially dodgy ankle (especially after breaks), I'd advise not becoming too reliant upon them and only using them in terrain. Otherwise your ankle won't regain it's proprioception (awareness of its position) as it doesn't experience all the usual movements and ultimately make it more prone to turning over.

[Hammer]

The Active Ankle T2 is fantastic. It will wear out your shoes quicker but you can replace those easy enough. Not sure if this has been mentioned but place the T2 below your orthodics or insoles. As mentioned earlier - don't wear them all the time. I only use them in the terrain. I also find that wetting them a bit before you use them avoids that squeeky sound they make when you run (which at times can cause me to lose focus while racing). Experiment with the back strap. Don't let it be too loose because it can get caught on a branch. But not too tight that you get achilles bursitus. Good luck and get that ankle well soon.

[housewife]

I can heartily reccommend the Jalas boot o shoes with added plasticky ankle support bit. I got a pair after trashing my ankle last year, and they are 100 percent effective. They totally prevent your ankles from moving full stop. This does make them quite hard to get used to, and you tend to fall on your face a fair bit, but saves a lot of money (and skin) on tape. They weigh a heck of a lot, and I found that when I trained in them, and raced with tape and o shoes, I felt I was flying!

[Suzy R Sopham]

Following the excellent advice on this thread, I've been using the Active ankle T2 for 2 weeks following an inversion injury at the Scottish Champs weekend( resulting in a hairline # of my lateral maleolus and an Anterior talofibular ligament partial tear).
They are fantastic- I'm now going to wear mine on both legs all the time, and the order company mentioned above were great also - I phoned them at 3pm on the Monday and had them first thing Tuesday morning.
I would agree that due to the footplate, your ankle is raised slightly more than normal, so they do take a bit of breaking in (or vulcan tape) to stop the blisters.
I've grown quite attached to the squeek of the hinge, and it adds some percussion to the tunes in your head as you run around!

[Spartan]

for those juniors hoping to go to Aus for JWOC next year, get used to running in ankle tape or braces - they are needed out there, even if you've never had a single problem with your ankles.

Do other people with experience of Aussie terrain agree with Fish's advice? I ask as parent of a JWOC 2007 hopeful who has no ankle problems.

And what's your precise reasoning, Fish?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Doug T]

fish-ive had a couple of people who have spoken to aussie orienteers advise me to tape or get braces for both ankles.
this is because some of the terrain is really rocky and even someone with pefect ankles could easily damage them if they aren't protected.
ive seen some maps from australia and i think i'll be taking tape or braces.

[BJesus]

well i have had perfect ankles the whole time i have been orienteering in australia, then twisted mine very badly in the UK. I guess it shows that you can do your ankle anywhere anytime. Running in australia is like running in spain, if you tape there tape in AUS. But i think it can be good to tape, not becuase its in AUS, but because its JWOC. Not a full tape job, but just a little bit to stop you going over, surely cant hurt. Going from perfect ankles to a ankle brace is maybe a bit over the top though i think.