In ankle sprain treatment, the use of ankle braces is common for three different levels of symptoms (mild, moderate, and severe). It supports the ankle joint by stabilizing, compressing and keeping warm. It will help improve your athletic performance by preventing further injury or damage. However, how often should you wear your ankle brace and sleep with an ankle brace overnight? What do you think about this?
Before writing this article, we saw that most people were confused and searched for answers on many social networking sites. We then spoke with doctors, physical therapists and professional athletes who have experienced most ankle injuries. We try to jot down accurate information, whether it's good to wear an ankle brace while sleeping or overnight. After reviewing their recommendations, we provide you with vivid information below.
How Ankle Brace Works
The main purpose of an ankle brace is to provide needed protection to the ankle joint and ligaments for a number of reasons. It depends on the mild pain of postoperative recovery. Additionally, the compressive force created by wearing the ankle brace supports the stabilizer to reduce swelling. It controls the range of motion by maintaining inflammation and adequate blood flow to the affected area.
Additionally, it can improve athletic performance or structural support during strenuous activities such as running and playing. Athletes wear ankle braces on vital muscles to reduce the risk of ligament damage. It can be a great replacement for a muscle tap due to its increased durability. However, purchasing the correct ankle brace for adequate purpose can be a challenging task. The best ankle brace buying guide can help you choose the brace that's right for you.
How long should you wear ankle braces?
Ankle injuries are a common type of sports injury. However, the foot and ankle joints appear to be more complex than any other joint in human health because there are multiple bones connected. Therefore, in the case of a foot injury, it cannot be said that you should actually wear an ankle brace. It depends on the sprain's treatment plan and condition. Also, it depends on the extent of your injury.
Generally speaking, for moderate injuries, you will need to wear ankle braces for ten days to six weeks, as we said before, it all depends on the severity of your fracture and injury. If you experience swelling, instability, and pain in your ankle, you should continue wearing the ankle brace. You can also use it on shoes. It is also advisable to wear ankle braces during sports and strenuous activities. When you wear the ankle brace throughout your workout, it supports your ankle and takes the load off your body.
Professional athletes recommend wearing ankle braces for one to two hours for the first time. Add an hour each day to adjust for comfort and stability. It will help the brace when you wear it all day during exercise. Ankle braces are recommended for people injured by sprained ankles to wear ankle braces for extended periods of time, even throughout the day. They just need to lose the straps when they are attached to the feet.
Should I wear an ankle brace while sleeping or overnight?
According to experts with extensive experience with different levels of ankle injuries and ankle sprains, it is recommended to wear them while sleeping or overnight. But they recommend losing the conveyor belt so as not to heat the defective area. Because wearing an ankle brace in tight mode can sometimes cause swelling. Below, we've listed three reasons why you should wear ankle braces while sleeping or overnight, based on advice from your physical therapist and doctor.
1. Limit ankle movement
One of the basic functions of an ankle brace is to limit the range of motion. By controlling the range of motion, ankle braces can rupture ligaments and tendons without overinjuring them. When you lie in bed, your feet don't seem to have any weight. The position of the foot can cause more serious injuries to the ankle.
You can kick your broken leg or kick the pedals or reluctantly against the wall while you're lying in bed - wearing ankle braces while sleeping can protect your legs from these conditions. This is a huge benefit of wearing ankle braces at night to prevent such accidental injuries.
2. Reduce swelling
Swelling of the affected area with a sprained ankle is common. This sometimes occurs due to inflammation of the surrounding tissue. The pain from this swelling can reach an extreme degree. In this case, an ankle brace can help reduce swelling and possible pain.
This compression of the ankle brace will help remove swelling from the injured area. Elevation is the best way to reduce swelling. However, adjusting the height of our feet when we sleep is painful because we move around a lot during sleep. Wearing a brace at night can improve the condition.
3. Prevent accidental injury
Without ankle braces at night, you will suffer more damage when you try to walk in the morning. You may fall from a sprain. Wearing an ankle brace can also provide support when you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. It will reduce the likelihood of further injury or ankle fracture.
Ankle braces help heal your broken bones properly by reducing accidental injuries. Wear the ankle brace for a long time, such as overnight, and your injury may recover within the stipulated time. In the event of any accidental damage, the ankle brace will protect your foot from serious injury.
Advice for sleeping with an ankle brace
There are many opinions on wearing an ankle brace. Many experts say it is beneficial for fractured areas while others believe that by creating pressure to connect the joint into its original shape. But based on our research, we found that it has more advantages and disadvantages than disadvantages. But there are some tips or advice given by your physical therapist that you should follow when wearing ankle braces for extended periods of time. In this section, we list these recommendations. I hope you keep this advice in mind when using ankle braces at night.
Check that you are wearing a properly adjustable and fitted ankle brace. Before purchasing an ankle brace, you should measure your splint. Many people make this mistake because they buy ankle braces based on the size of their feet. But there is a huge difference between wearing an ankle brace based on the foot and splint.
Choose an ankle brace with compression clips for maximum support and comfort.
Sleep in the coolest room you can tolerate and your ankle brace won't get warm and uncomfortable.
Use pillows near your feet. This pillow allows you to lift your injured foot and ankle brace. This elevation will reduce further swelling and possibly reduce some discomfort. Use soft pillows instead of rigid shapes.
Do not pull the ankle brace straps too tight, as they can interfere with your blood circulation. Put on your ankle brace so you can put a finger or two after tightening the straps.
Is it bad to wear an ankle brace?
The effectiveness of wearing an ankle brace depends on what you are using it for. If an ankle brace is used for a sprain, prolonged use is okay. However, when you're using ankle braces to improve performance like running and activities, wearing them for extended periods of time can sometimes suck.
Running and long jumping while wearing knee or ankle braces can have serious ligament effects, one study found. When you wear compression stockings for balance exercises, your ankle sprain affects you a lot. Here, we list some of the adverse effects of wearing a brace while sleeping or throughout the day. By reading this section, you may use it further in good faith.
Wearing a brace can limit normal movement and sometimes cause discomfort.
Sometimes tonight's brace can warm up one leg and cause swelling.
Due to discomfort, patients may in some cases suffer from insomnia.
in conclusion
Wearing an ankle brace not only works on balance but also provides a comfortable position for a broken ankle. Most medical professionals recommend braces for sprained ankles because of their effectiveness and supportive modules. It is suitable for strains, breaks or repairs as a healing process.
Our discussion is coming to an end. Above, we've tried to give you an overall recommendation on ankle braces, wearing braces at night, and advice on sleeping with braces. I hope you will find this article useful to you. Thank you for being with us.
