Monday, February 16, 2009

Athletic Ankle Supports

By Kenneth Elliott

Sporting activities and athletic ankle supports are a good combination for children in sports. They help to keep children out of danger from major leg injuries that are common. Children are still growing and bone injuries can slow down bone growth on occasion, especially if the injury occurs on a growth plate. Athletic ankle supports can help to prevent major accidents from children landing in the wrong positions. They make sure that key ankle positions are maintained as to not allowing ankle injuries. There are still is a chance that a major ankle injury can happen but wearing athletic ankle supports are there for preventative measures.

If you decide to get an ankle brace for your child then you will need to make sure you have the right type of brace. Not all ankle braces are for everyone. There are braces that are designed to totally immobilize the ankle and there are ankle braces that are designed to just provide pressure in key areas and keep the ankle in fairly the same place. For a growing child it is not necessary to get an ankle brace that will get in the way of the full range of motion of the ankle. This will be a hindrance rather than a benefit if you were to purchase this kind of brace. A lightweight athletic elastic ankle support should be just fine for a child athlete.

So what is the best ankle brace to purchase? The best ankle supports are made of neoprene and they not only support your ankle but increase your bounce, make your landings softer and keep your muscles warm. Neoprene or polychloroprene is a family of synthetic rubbers that are produced by polymerization of chloroprene. It is used in a wide variety of environments, such as in wetsuits, laptop sleeves, electrical insulation, and car fan belts. It is also a synthetic rubber that is resistant to oils and aging.

Ok, you are now almost about to buy a brace but you find that your child want a pair of high tops that already have ankle support. Yes, high top sneakers are designed to give support to ankles but this is just the minimum needed. In order to get the maximum support needed you will still need to purchase an ankle support. Why not error on caution not on savings. - 16004

About the Author: