 |
| Easily fits in a shoe |
Since the age of thirteen, ankle supports and braces have been
my friends. Never a week goes by when I
do not have to call on the help of an ankle support. Sometimes it is because I am in extreme pain,
other times it is as a precaution because I am about to embark on an off road
adventure where the terrain will be treacherous.
For those of you that do not already know my history, you
can find out more here http://sandrabowers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/managing-pain-and-flipping-it-on-its.html
Over the years I have tried a huge number of ankle supports
from different manufacturers: Aircast; McDavid; LP; Vulkan; Mueller and Tubigrip
to name a few. They have all provided
solutions and also caused further problems.
The problems have varied from destroying my shoes to causing further injury,
wounds and bruising on my foot and leg.
Tubigrip has been with me from the start and will spend the
rest of my life with me.
In 2011 I was introduced to Rehband and the start of a brilliant
relationship. Rehband help me run when
all else fails, they help me train when pain and weakness could otherwise
confine me to a sedentary life. Quite
simply they have become my ankle's new best friend.
Rehband have a great range of ankle
supports.
 |
| Rehband - more than just supports... |
I wear the Ankle Brace when
running at extreme speed and power, i.e. sub 5 minute miles with huskies…. I have also worn this brace on ultra distance
events on days when my ankle has been weak or painful. At first glance the brace looks very bulky,
but it does fit easily into a normal trainer and has never caused me a
significant problem on long distance events.
The only time I had a serious problem when wearing it was when running
up a very steep and continuous hill during the Drovers leg of Welsh Castles
Relay. I had secured the “ligament”
strap (which fits across the front of the foot) too tightly and as a result
could not flex my ankle properly, causing the joint to remain in a very painful
position. I finished the run by adapting
a rather strange style of running! The simple
solution to this problem has been to either not fit the strap, which is a Velcro
fastening piece of webbing, or to fit it very loosely.
I have also worn the Ankle Brace post injury, i.e. when I
have endured a normal “sprain” on my ankle.
It allows me to continue running as I recover albeit at a very reduced
pace and effort!
 |
| Running supper fast... |
I also wear the Lace up and
the Receptor during short and
longer runs. Both are easier to fit than
the Ankle Brace, but not quite as supportive.
I foolishly wore the Receptor for an ultra-distance event in severe mud
and wet without trialling it properly with a brand new pair of trainers.
The result was a very painful wound on my heel where the new combination rubbed. Again there was a very simple solution of
adjusting the wrapping slightly to relieve the pressure point and a very
valuable reminder to me that one should use logic and rational thought when embarking
on the unknown…..
I usually wear the Ankle Support after
I have run, to aid recovery and give my ankle some support after a strenuous effort.
Another really good thing about Rehband’s range of ankle
supports and braces is that all of them can be worn on either foot.
Rehband have something for every occasion, I have also tried the knee supports
with great success, especially just now as I recover from an injury sustained
last year….
(Photos courtesy of Ian J Berry and Newbury parkrun)
