Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
Why Use A Lace Up Ankle Brace? [Running or Sprained Ankle Brace]
Why use a lace-up ankle brace? We like ankle support braces as a running ankle brace, like a sprained ankle brace & for other ankle injuries!
Table of Contents
The Best Shoes to Wear with the lace-up ankle brace:
Recommended:
- Low-top sneakers that have a traditional tongue and laces where you can loosen the laces enough to fit the brace in the shoe.
- Good running shoe brands such as Hoka, Asics, Nike, Adidas, On, Saucony, New Balance, and other good brands.
Not Recommended:
- Sneakers that have a sleeve or collar design that limit the opening of the shoe.
- A slipper with good support may work, but this is not the intended design for these braces, and it can fall off.
- Due to their limiting and tight design, inserting any ankle braces in these shoes is very difficult.
- People are generally not happy combining a brace with these types of shoes.
Not Recommended:
- Tall boots or sandals.
- Tight of constrictive high-top shoes.
Slow braces to put on:
- The tough part about lace-up ankle braces is that you have to lace them up!
- They are more flexible and can fit well into a shoe but take a few minutes to put on.
Conditions for ankle braces:
Conditions that would benefit from ankle braces include:
- Ankle braces for a sprained ankle.
- Ankle braces for a high ankle sprain.
Best Ankle Braces:
Ankle stability ankle braces:
- These are our favorite ankle stability lace-up braces.
- These are not meant for routine athletic wearing, as they can make your ankle too stiff.
- These are the most beneficial when recovering from a recent ankle sprain or injury.
- The goal is to wear this and protect your foot until you are ready to move ahead from your injury.
- If you have a chronic ankle sprain or injury, a different brace can be more beneficial.
Best Ankle Stability Braces (Not for Compression):
The Best Overall Brace For Fit & Support.
Most Supportive Premium Brace.
Best Budge Supportive Brace.
Price:
$54.99
Price not available
$29.97
Overview:
Amazing brace, best fit and support combination: If you can afford it.
This is the best brace for pure support, but it can’t fit in more snug shoes.
Outstanding brace for the price point. This is a figure 8 strap with laces, soft interface.
Pros:
Amazing brace. Best reviews and best fit. This is the Ferrari of braces if you can afford it.
This is a very highly rated, great reviewed brace. The support and stability is top notch for athletics. Very durable and does it’s job.
Amazing reviews with proven track record. This is very soft and supportive in your shoe.
Cons:
The only downside besides cost, is complexity. This brace must be left or right. Not interchangeable. It is also for post-injury situations and good support. Not for compression!
The brace may be a little too big for a more snug shoe. This requires some room to fit and would be the main complaint. Hard interface along the padding.
The main downside is the durability and the ability for the material to give out. Great at first but maybe 3-4 months of continuous use prior to failure.
Important Tips:
Make sure to choose left vs. right. This is a high level brace mean specifically for injury support. This is not for compression or non-injury situations. It will be too tight.
This is a fantastic and supportive brace. Just make sure that your shoe will have some room for it to fit. Most good running shoes should let it fit.
This is an excellent starter brace if you have never had a brace before. It is a little longer to put with the straps and laces.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Compare Stores:
Best Ankle Stability Braces (Not for Compression):
The Best Overall Brace For Fit & Support.
Price:
$54.99
Overview:
Amazing brace, best fit and support combination: If you can afford it.
Pros:
Amazing brace. Best reviews and best fit. This is the Ferrari of braces if you can afford it.
Cons:
The only downside besides cost, is complexity. This brace must be left or right. Not interchangeable. It is also for post-injury situations and good support. Not for compression!
Important Tips:
Make sure to choose left vs. right. This is a high level brace mean specifically for injury support. This is not for compression or non-injury situations. It will be too tight.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Compare Stores:
Best Ankle Stability Braces (Not for Compression):
Most Supportive Premium Brace.
Price:
Price not available
Overview:
This is the best brace for pure support, but it can’t fit in more snug shoes.
Pros:
This is a very highly rated, great reviewed brace. The support and stability is top notch for athletics. Very durable and does it’s job.
Cons:
The brace may be a little too big for a more snug shoe. This requires some room to fit and would be the main complaint. Hard interface along the padding.
Important Tips:
This is a fantastic and supportive brace. Just make sure that your shoe will have some room for it to fit. Most good running shoes should let it fit.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Compare Stores:
Best Ankle Stability Braces (Not for Compression):
Best Budge Supportive Brace.
Price:
$29.97
Overview:
Outstanding brace for the price point. This is a figure 8 strap with laces, soft interface.
Pros:
Amazing reviews with proven track record. This is very soft and supportive in your shoe.
Cons:
The main downside is the durability and the ability for the material to give out. Great at first but maybe 3-4 months of continuous use prior to failure.
Important Tips:
This is an excellent starter brace if you have never had a brace before. It is a little longer to put with the straps and laces.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Compare Stores:
Ankle compression ankle braces:
- These are braces that are a little bit easier to put on.
- This means that you can wear these braces and still play sports, and get through your workday without significant stiffness.
- These do not offer the same protection or stability that a lace-up ankle brace or stronger may provide.
Best Heel & Ankle Compression Braces:
Best Premium Brace (Support & Compression)
Budget Brace With Some Compression & Some Support.
Price:
Price not available
$22.49
Overview:
This is The Top Level Brace – Does Compression, Support & Great Fit.
This brace attempts mild compression and mild support.
Pros:
Excellent brace: Best overall mix of compression & support, and it still fits in most shoes! If you have a chronic injury and need to wear normal shoes => This is the BEST CHOICE.
Good rating at 4.3 with 2,000 reviews. It is cost effective and gives some support with some compression. Does both ok, but excellent when price is factored in.
Cons:
Expensive. It doesn’t do any single thing the best. There are cheaper and more supportive braces, there are cheaper and more compressive braces. But no braces combine the two and still fit in a shoe.
Does not really do anything well. Weak support and not the best compression. Meant as an assist for chronic pain and low activity. Not for an acute injury.
Important Tips:
This is a high durability brace for everyday use. If you have chronic arthritis or pain with a high need for activity, this is your brace to use! **Gel inside seems to deteriorate after daily washing at about 1 year old**
This is mean for lower activity and better fit than a true supportive brace. Don’t use this for an acute sprain or injury.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Heel & Ankle Compression Braces:
Best Premium Brace (Support & Compression)
Price:
Price not available
Overview:
This is The Top Level Brace – Does Compression, Support & Great Fit.
Pros:
Excellent brace: Best overall mix of compression & support, and it still fits in most shoes! If you have a chronic injury and need to wear normal shoes => This is the BEST CHOICE.
Cons:
Expensive. It doesn’t do any single thing the best. There are cheaper and more supportive braces, there are cheaper and more compressive braces. But no braces combine the two and still fit in a shoe.
Important Tips:
This is a high durability brace for everyday use. If you have chronic arthritis or pain with a high need for activity, this is your brace to use! **Gel inside seems to deteriorate after daily washing at about 1 year old**
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Best Heel & Ankle Compression Braces:
Budget Brace With Some Compression & Some Support.
Price:
$22.49
Overview:
This brace attempts mild compression and mild support.
Pros:
Good rating at 4.3 with 2,000 reviews. It is cost effective and gives some support with some compression. Does both ok, but excellent when price is factored in.
Cons:
Does not really do anything well. Weak support and not the best compression. Meant as an assist for chronic pain and low activity. Not for an acute injury.
Important Tips:
This is mean for lower activity and better fit than a true supportive brace. Don’t use this for an acute sprain or injury.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Rigid ankle-foot orthotic [AFO Brace]:
- These are great options for ankle-foot orthoses.
- If you have insurance coverage for a custom rigid AFO brace, that might be the best bet.
- If you live in Michigan and can come to visit us to get fitted for a brace!
Best Rigid Ankle Foot Orthotics [AFO Brace]
Price:
$61.95
$145.95
Overview:
This is a stable and rigid ankle foot orthosis.
This is a tall stable and rigid ankle foot orthosis (AFO Brace).
Pros:
This is an easy to put on brace with solid support.
This can be a really good brace to transition out of a walking boot or with a significant ankle sprain.
Cons:
This brace can be too rigid for some. It is not tall enough to handle significant ankle sprains or posterior tibial tendonitis.
This can be very bulky and can be too hard for poorly padded feet (thin feet).
Important Tips:
Not a great brace for sandals, boots or high tops. Best for an athletic shoe that is relatively low cut.
This is an excellent brace if it fits well. This might be brace that would best be served to be tried out first. It is more supportive than all other comparable non-custom braces.
Amazon Affiliate Link:
Compare Prices [Affiliate Links]
Best Rigid Ankle Foot Orthotics [AFO Brace]
Price:
$61.95
Overview:
This is a stable and rigid ankle foot orthosis.
Pros:
This is an easy to put on brace with solid support.
Cons:
This brace can be too rigid for some. It is not tall enough to handle significant ankle sprains or posterior tibial tendonitis.
Important Tips:
Not a great brace for sandals, boots or high tops. Best for an athletic shoe that is relatively low cut.
Amazon Affiliate Link:
Compare Prices [Affiliate Links]
Best Rigid Ankle Foot Orthotics [AFO Brace]
Price:
$145.95
Overview:
This is a tall stable and rigid ankle foot orthosis (AFO Brace).
Pros:
This can be a really good brace to transition out of a walking boot or with a significant ankle sprain.
Cons:
This can be very bulky and can be too hard for poorly padded feet (thin feet).
Important Tips:
This is an excellent brace if it fits well. This might be brace that would best be served to be tried out first. It is more supportive than all other comparable non-custom braces.
Amazon Affiliate Link:
Compare Prices [Affiliate Links]