Ankle support ?

[Splatcher]

I think that thinking and doing are two entirely different things.

I was thinking much the same. It may recover quite quickly, or it may take months. It depends what you've damaged. At least take it easy until the visible damage has healed.

[Tussockface]

In my road running days - [SPITS] - I used to find I could run on an ankle that resembled a black pudding on steroids.
However, that only worked if I ran in a straight line. Cornering was dodgy. Off-road running wasn't really an option.

Ankle injuries take much longer than people think, because recovery is about more than just weight-bearing without wincing.
The strength and proprioception take many months, and throughout that time you're at risk of turning the ankle again.
Wait for most of the swelling to subside, then manage the risk by doing lots of exercises and balance work, be very careful in training, and strap for racing.

However, in practice, most people start running again after about a week and forget about it till the next injury. Which is sometimes quite soon.
'Most people' has included me.

[vics]

I badly sprained my ankle in November and it took me 6 weeks before I was back to ' proper' running, sorry if it's not the answer you want.
I then went through about another 6 weeks of physio to mobilise the ankle and worked on strengthening the ankle and muscles in the ankle and calf.
When I did start moving about once the swelling had gone down, I used strapping and an ankle support, which helped. I've now got a small left ankle support which I no longer use and I hope I don't need again!

[plodding bear]

This may be pure coincidence, but I haven't once gone over on my ankle since I started wearing very minimalist footwear. I think it's because my feet are flat on the ground, and have no platform to tip off.
- I could be wrong though, it's just a theory!

[Stagger]

Zinc oxide tape for me two legths in a U shape up the sides of the ankles and two wraps round the calf.
Only tape for racing.
Yep I have a wobble board and use it.
Plodding has nailed it. A lot less problems with Walsh or X tallon. Mudclaw was never kind to me.

[mr brightside]

Are wobbles not really for beginners then ?

This is not recommended...


This is recommended...

I went over on my ankle on Thursday. Its bruised to buggery but doesnt really hurt anymore. Im thinking i should get out running again and take it easy. What ya think ?

I usually start with some eyes closed balancing, on the floor not the cushion, at around this stage as advised by my physio. 4 mins a day every day. Remember- every time you re-knacker it by going off-road too soon you go back to square one.

[matthew]

Thanks for the advice peeps. Gonna also look at getting a wobble board aswell and do some strengthening exercises.

Get a cheap skateboard, whip off the wheels and put it on a piece of drainpipe. :thumbup:

[Old Whippet]

Broke my ankle twice early last year. 1st time = a rabbit hole, 2nd time was 8 weeks later and obviously my fault for being in a rush to get back on the fells. Found this fella very helpful.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mcdavid-Ligh...d+ankle+splint
Used it in a few races including Ben Nevis. It doesn't seem to restrict running movement and has loads of lateral support.
I still use it occasionally, but now I have no idea whether I need it or not. How can you know?? I still descend like a softy on tussocky ground for fear of another break.

[Hes]

I second OW's recommendation. I tore two ankle ligaments a year and a half ago and after 8 weeks of no running at all, I did my first fell run and later a race using one of these. It gave me blisters though so I didn't use it for very long and swapped to a neoprene ankle support which I think gave me more confidence than actual support. I gave that up as soon as I could and throughout my rehab I did lots of physio exercises and wobble boarding. I agree that a wobble cushion would probably have been better but I'd already bought the board and I have good balance from years of tai chi so I stuck with it. Could do to use it more often.

[blencathrafrommykitchen]

Can anyone recommend a quality ankle support suitable to be worn whilst running ?
In the last few months I've gone over a few times on both my ankles and its now effecting my confidence when descending so think its time to try some ankle support .

what ya recommend ?

After years of repeated injuries and associated rehab (ie lots of one-legged balancing exercised) I used to tape my ankles for races. This went on for several years until I moved to Cumbria (from Sheffield) and started running more regularly on much rougher ground and habitually wearing fell shoes. For the next 8 years I didn't suffer any ankle problems which makes me think the answer is strengthening/conditioning the ankle and its associated ligaments, proprioception etc. I guess that the longer you go without repeating the injury, the less likely you are to repeat it!

Feeling smug about this inevitably led to me turning an ankle on a flat bit of ground in Penrith a couple of months ago and since then I've done it again twice, both times on flat ground when I've stopped concentrating on the terrain!