Go Go Gadget Ankle (McDavid Ankle Guard A-101)

Member Name: josarah

Product:	McDavid Ankle Guard A-101
Date:	01/02/06 (763 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You can get back to fitness quicker and feel stable

Disadvantages: Smell after a while and needs washing

Picture the scene, May 2002 and the summer netball league is up and kicking. I’m running backwards (always inadvisable) and catch my foot on a team mates, sending me flying to the floor and clutching my ankle which is starting to really (really, really) hurt. Fast forward a few weeks and I have made a slight recovery and am able to start playing again. But what’s that, a searing pain around my ankle, that can’t be right, maybe I should go and see a physio. Let the fun begin!!

I first went to see a physio in the autumn of 2002, who did all sorts of grim things like pulling my ankle in all sorts of directions and doing ice massage. The diagnosis…

’well, your ankle ligaments are really lax, you could actually break your leg if you happen to go over on it again’

‘(GULP), oh, what should I do then?’

‘You could get one of these supports, we sell a lot to people with ankle problems’

‘Thanks here is the cash!’

So, there was my introduction to this amazing piece of equipment. My ankle was quite seriously damaged and if I wanted to carry on playing netball I would have to start taking care of myself.

The McDavid 101 ankle guard cost me about £25 and you should be able to get it from your physiotherapist, alternatively it is available from a variety of internet retailers. According to the Mcdavid website the A101 ankle guard was first introduced in 1985 and has been widely used ever since.

***Look***

The support is a vinyl support that you have to put your foot into (a bit like an ice skate boot but without the toe bit or the skate), you then have to lace it up (quite tightly) to fit. The laces run the whole length of the brace so it is unlikely to be too tight unless you have laced it so, the brace is joined at the bottom by a wide strip of elastic. The supports are available in either white or black, depending on your preference and don’t look bulky as others can, and fit nicely under your trainer and they come up to about the same level as your sock. They can get dirty, but are fully washable in your machine.

***Feel***

When I first wore this brace I found it quite uncomfortable, it made my foot and ankle sweat and dug in slightly to my calf. This however is something that I got used to really quickly and although it still makes my ankle sweat I don’t find it a great encumbrance. The brace has almost taken the form of my foot and ankle and as such I hardly notice I’m wearing it. The major difference in sensation when I’m playing netball is that I am really confident in the stability of my ankle. I feel as if I can go flying round the court without the risk of getting another major injury.

When you run, the support moves with you, it moves with your foot as you flex it, but gives you a lot of lateral support to prevent further injury. You couldn't roll your ankle in one of these unless you really seriously tried to.

***Results***

As I just mentioned, I feel really confident in this support. Considering that I had surgery to tighten the ligaments in my ankle I reckon this is a major achievement. I was able to play a lot quicker after injury than I would ordinarily have been able to and believe that this support helped me come back a lot quicker after my operation (just over 6 months), as I was able to go to the gym and do fitness work with the knowledge that my ankle was stable (albeit falsely) and that I wouldn’t do myself major damage.

Just last week I landed a bit funny at netball and felt my ankle twinge a bit, but that’s all it did. I had a slight twinge that I was able to run off rather than a sprain that put me on the sidelines for a few weeks.

This support has really helped me, and made me able to carry on playing netball whereas previously I was worried about further injury.

***Confidence***

I am really confident in this product. I don’t think I could recommend it highly enough, although you ought to check with either your physio or doctor before use. In fact I would definitely recommend you get yourself checked out by a doctor or physio before you start playing sport again, in case you have a more serious injury.

It is the nature of the game that netballers often have dodgy ankles, lots of players I know wear these supports and all cannot sing the praises of them highly enough. For those of you with a passion for sport and very weak ankles, these supports allow you to continue playing in relative safety.

This support makes me feel strong, like I can take on the world (or at least live to play another day). Five stars from me, due to the fact that I would have had to stop playing the sport I love if I hadn’t been introduced to this product.

Summary: Highly supportive ankle brace for those with weak ankles.