If you have sprained your ankle it is very important to get the proper care as soon as possible. One way to prevent permanent damage is to ice the ankle immediately. It also needs to be elevated and secured so no more trauma comes to it. After it is iced properly for no more than 20 minutes you need to let the ankle warm up by removing the ice packs. When the skin is warmer to the touch, start the icing process again. It will become a series of ice the ankle and then allow it to warm. You do not want to freeze the skin so place a thin cloth between the ankle and the ice.

Following the icing process and after the swelling has gone down, the ankle can be treated with a compression bandage, this will help to reduce pain and swelling and will also help to reduce movement. An ankle brace can provide this compression and reduction of movement that is needed at this time.

There are several different types of ankle braces that are sold, including mild, medium and maximum support ankle braces. The type of ankles brace you need depends entirely upon how bad the ankle is injured and if this is the first time it has been injured.

Some of the different types of ankle sprains include, an injury that over stretched the ligaments of the ankle but has not torn any tendons or muscles. With such a minor sprain, a person would be able to engage in normal activities and in a short period of time will not even remember the sprain. Someone with a mild sprain would probably want to wrap it up, or use or buy an ankle brace. Some of these include a compression bandage or even an actual brace that restrains and slightly reduces movement.

For someone that has really injured their ankle they might have partial or even full tears of the ligaments in the ankle. Associated with this type of trauma, is a high degree of pain, swelling, stiffness and major bruising. This injury demands you be away from work, sports, and any other activities for at least a few weeks. The type of brace that is needed is one that gives much more support than a wrap bandage. This injury calls for a stronger device, one that is can completely support the ankle and also has a few more features like padding and straps to secure the ankle in place. Now is not the time for this ankle to slip out of the brace and become re-injured.

The last and most painful injury that one can have on the ankle is a complete tear of the ligaments from the bones. With this type of injury, surgery is a must. If one chooses not to get the surgery, the ankle may never heal correctly and a person might be limping for the rest of their life. The type of device that one would need is a complete restraint, possibly a cast or semi-cast. There are many types of restraints that can help keep the ankle from moving and being further injured. There are many different styles and colors that you can choose from. Some can reflect your wild side and some can just be a normal restraint. Do not be afraid to express yourself, it is, after all, your ankle brace.