Thursday, March 5, 2009

Ankle braces For Football - Prevent Ankle Sprains

By Kenneth Elliott

Numerous studies have stated that previous ankle sprains if not cared for correctly when they occur have a higher chance of being re-injured. Previous injuries to ankles make the ankle unstable, opening a window for the ankle to being re-sprained. Football players that have had previous ankle problems need to be proactive by wearing ankle braces for football. These ankle braces help to keep the ankle in alignment during high end activities. Major fractures also disrupt and cause nerve damage. Doctors speculate major injuries damage the nerves that tell your body what position your ankle is in. These nerves are call proproceptors. They tell the body if the ankle has done too far in a wrong direction, alerting the body to take immediate steps to put the ankle back into a position that will not damage it. When the body is unable to accomplish this task during the healing process it is better to have a brace to help out were the body falls short.

Do you have an idea that you may have proprioceptor damage? This is a way that you can tell.

Balance or lack of it is one of the key factors for those to determine that they may have damage to their proprioceptors. This is a easy test to administer. Researchers have found in studies that injured player have a problem with balancing on one foot for 15 seconds without having to put down the other foot.

Playing on quality surfaces conditions can lower your risk factor in having another ankle sprain. Football players know that artificial turf can cause problems with ankle sprains, the tension between the players shoes and the surface increases friction. High friction will hold the players foot in contact in a stationary position while the upper body is still moving. This is a prime way to get a sprain. As I spoke before, those football players that have had previous sprain would want to wear ankle braces for football. - 15438

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