However, another study from the American Journal of Sports Medicine found no difference in the incidence of ankle sprains between high and low-top shoes. I have coached football and basketball among other sports for over 25 years. But to have a low, I feel like it gives your foot more freedom to change direction. While your foot certainly feels more secure inside a high top shoe, does the added support actually do anything to prevent ankle sprains? text-align: right; High tops are aptly named because the upper, or soft top, of the shoe is higher than that of shoes that are medium or low cut. .qck-body-main .qck-body-fields .width-4-per, .qck-body-main .qck-body-fields .width-2-per { I have been rolling my ankles more often lately and may look into a high-top shoe next time around. } .qck-popup .qck-add-option { location.reload(); .qck-delete-button { If you want to check out this study, it is right here. margin-right: -15px; A callus is thickened and hardened skin on the soles of your feet that is more evenly spread and with no cone-shaped core. position: relative; line-height: 35px; Lightweight Basketball Shoes. The extra few inches that you get with high top basketball shoes do not support the ankle as it is not strong or tight enough to the ankle to provide any support. Both shoes will provide the support you want for rocky terrain, while also allowing the muscles to do their job, thus building that ankle and foot strength. width: 100%; Depending upon the loading conditions, subjects wearing color: #fff; The Science Behind High-Top Basketball Shoes, Pros And Cons Of High-Top Basketball Shoes, Basketball players who wore high-top shoes, basketball shoes helps to prevent the ankle from rolling over, shoes with herringbone or diamond-patterned treads for a good grip, basketball shoes may help to prevent ankle sprains. .qck-button-main button, .qck-manual-entry-box button{ Using a prospective, randomized experimental design, 622 college intramural basketball players were stratified by a previous history of ankle sprains to wear a new pair of either high-top, high-top with inflatable air chambers, or low-top basketball shoes during all games for a complete season. While there is no brace out there that can guarantee that you wont roll your ankle, they do provide stronger support than high top shoes. } delete Because of their extensive ligament structure, ankles are notoriously susceptible to injury. Warming up is one of the best ways to prevent ankle injuries as the muscle and ligaments are more flexible if they are warm and so can hold steady under more force. What is the point of Thrower's Bandolier? The theory behind high top shoes is that because the shoe is laced above the ankle bones, they offer more support to joints and ligaments in the area, thus preventing injury. This is interesting because I was a cheerleader all throughout high school and ankle injuries are very common in cheer so I often thought about the risk of an injury. Koban further asserts the every day wearing of high-top shoes can create a vicious cycle of problems: Ankle and knee pain. There are some studies in the past that have reported that high-top shoes in comparison to low-top shoes decrease the amount and rate of inversion and decrease the risk of ankle sprains. It may seem like the socks are not that relevant at first, but there are good reasons to wear the proper type of skateboarding socks. An expert discusses shoes, braces and other ways to support your ankles. Cold muscles and ligaments are more brittle and prone to tears and injury. .qck-alert.qck-true .qck-aler-icon-inner { 3. And if you are performing tricks rather than casual skating, it can be very hard. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With this being such a huge issue in basketball, UCHealth released a video on exactly how you can prevent ankle injury during basketball. .width-6-per{ When it comes to epic footwear, height really is everything. A study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that players who wore high-top shoes were significantly less likely to suffer an ankle sprain than those who wore low-top shoes. High tops also provide more protection to the feet and ankles if you happen to fall while skateboarding. The above video will summarize how to pick the correct ankle brace. Due to the expense and difficulty of conducting a proper study on this topic, they are rare. High-tops provide the most protection of any type of skate shoe, offering complete coverage and support for your ankles. To prevent ankle injuries, be sure to wear supportive shoes and socks, and always warm up before skating. font-size: 12px; Is it true that high top shoes are better for preventing ankle sprains? Sports Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for participants in team and individual sport activities. Why do many companies reject expired SSL certificates as bugs in bug bounties? A corn is thickened skin on top of or in-between a skater's toes that creates a protective layer of dead skin cells. padding: 0; In 2015, a much newer study was published that looked at the forces placed on the ankle through different types of basketball shoes and how they could prevent ankle sprains. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. players had more ability to cut and switch directions (their input not timed), I had too many players losing major playing time due to high ankle sprains, at the time high tops where very poorly designed for speed. margin-right: auto; By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. display: table; Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Other foot injuries that affect skating and are common among skaters include: Malleolar bursitis, in which the bone that protrudes from the middle of the ankle swells and causes pain. .qck-button-main button, .qck-manual-entry-box button{ There is minimal reduction in first-time . width: 33.333%; What Is The Purpose Of The Square On A Basketball Backboard? line-height: 1; Despite the very best medical team money can buy, Davis could do nothing but watch as the Lakers missed out on the playoffs, showing just how bad ankle sprains can be. You can check out the study in full here. The severity of an ankle sprain depends on how much damage it does and how unstable the joint becomes as a result. Another study demonstrated that even though all those devices (shoes, braces, etc.) She adds that they also may help those who are recovering from an ankle injury or who are more prone to injuries. border: 1px solid #466373; , like those we make at Lems, are ideal for preventing injuries like ankle sprains. Cons. -ms-flex-align: center; Ankle sprain prevention revisits shoes as solution. Decreased range of motion in the ankle joint and surrounding tendons, ligaments, and muscles. margin: 0 8px 0 0px; line-height: 1; If you suffer from repeated ankle sprains, an alternative, and often more supportive solution is to either tape your ankle, or wear an ankle brace. do high tops prevent ankle sprains skateboarding. Warm Up Thoroughly. padding: 0; background: #e66464; There is conflicting evidence, but generally it is found that high top basketball shoes do not prevent ankle sprains. border-radius: 10px; The prevalence of ankle sprain was 9.15%. An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in sport and recreation. border-color: #50b83c; They are comfortable and often players prefer the lower top as it gives slightly more freedom to the ankle and foot. Even if a high-top shoe does protect the ankle better during an activity like hiking, it could lead to ankle sprains off the trail, doing basic everyday motions, like stepping awkwardly on a rock while walking your dog. The key part of ankle sprains is rolling your ankle, and the best way to prevent ankle rolling is with better stability and traction. } 5 Best Ankle Brace for Gymnastics, Cheerleading and Tumbling, Cush: Self-molding insole using advanced technology for customized support, Destin: Designed to handle impacts that occur when skateboarding, Medic: More protection for the toes and heel, which undergo impacts, Never ever hold any moving vehicle while you are on a skateboard, Crouch down slowly for better control, if you find that you are losing your balance. 22% injuried the ankle while hiking on the cement and the others on different terrain. background-color: rgba(224, 224, 224, 0.8); top: 4px; .qck-aler-icon-inner { Name / Product Code The study showed that there was no benefit to wearing high top shoes. For years, basketball players were encouraged to wear high tops because it was believed they prevent a player from rolling his ankle. } The herringbone traction present in these shoes from heel to toe makes this pair one of the best basketball shoes for ankle support. font-size: 1.6rem; All we can do is reduce the risk or incidence of ankle sprains. Most ankle sprains will heal with standard RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression and elevation) within two to 12 weeks. .qck-body-main input { You should get an instructor to learn proper skateboarding techniques when you are new. margin-top: 20px; } However, skateboarding can also be dangerous. If ankle sprains or ankle instability are a chronic problem, then the use of braces would help provide stability when skating. 9.1 support rating based on 8 expert reviews. float: left !important; line-height: 43px; In basketball you need fast movements across the court and high-top basketball shoes can often cause discomfort in these movements that could potentially weaken the ankle. .qck-head-main{ Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. .qck-aler-txt p { But during the first three years we had no more than 2 high ankle sprains a year. .qck-alert.qck-true .qck-aler-icon{ Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines. What Are The Common Broken Ankle Symptoms, Its Causes and Best Treatment Options? } } Ankle sprains become more common after more injuries, so if you have an ankle injury then wear high top shoes to prevent it and get injured again that could make sense, but the study was well developed so this should not have been an issue. Its because you didnt use that muscle at all during that time. width: 50%; Policy. View Cart .qck-cart-img, .qck-view-img{ border-radius: 50%; }); Ankle sprains are among the most common sport injuries, especially among hikers and trail runners who walk along uneven terrain. Without doing ankle strengthening exercises, ankle braces may be counter-productive, according to the athletics department of Illinois-based Lake Forest High School. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. width: 12%;float: right; Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? Whether you have healthy ankles or not, there are simple exercises that help build up the muscles around the joints. Theyre not meant for athletic use of any kind. Further, a high-top shoe may have better ankle support, but the stiffness of the shoe could result in a knee injury instead. margin-right: 0; Skaters also are more susceptible to high ankle sprains because they twist and turn their ankles. Both shoes will provide the support you want for rocky terrain, while also allowing the muscles to do their job, thus building that ankle and foot strength. A sudden movement or twist, often when the foot rolls in, can overstretch the supporting ligaments, causing ligament tears and bleeding around the joint. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. add +ADD Items height: 15px; One slip, one false step, and you may find yourself with a sprained ankle. This could be fixed with the use of custom or over-the-counter orthotics. Unfortunately, for most, once you tear a ligament, youre likely to continue to injure that same ankle repeatedly because the ligaments lose strength and flexibility. text-transform: uppercase; clear: both; . * { background: #466373; position: relative; We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. max-width: 95%; In the ongoing battle against inversion ankle sprains in basketball and other sports, high tops are old news. What Science says about high top basketball shoes preventing ankle sprains. } border-radius: 0px; clear: both; A tight and overbuilt high-top will do the same to your ankle. Different types under the Etcetera brand emphasize different areas of the feet to support. margin-top: 5px; There are a few things you can do to prevent ankle sprains: These tips can help prevent ankle sprains and stay healthy for the entire basketball season. Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. Now, as to why some players prefer to play in low top shoes, this article from ESPN explains that Kobe Bryant was originally inspired by soccer players who exert similar strain on their ankles in low top shoes. .width-6-per { background: #fff; However, in . We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Hypothetically, if high-top basketball shoes were able to fully support the ankle and prevent these sprains, the same force would be pushed through the tibia, fibula and the knee. Let's start with the facts: Myth: Ankle braces prevent all ankle injuries. While there's no way to completely prevent ankle injuries when you play basketball, taking a few precautions when you wear low tops can help. padding: 0 25px; There are a few studies that suggest the foot inverts less (which is the main mechanism of an ankle sprain) when wearing high-top shoes, she says. display: -webkit-box; text-align: center; These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. @media all and (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width:991px) { They are incredibly painful and, in some situations, ankle sprains have long term implications which can have a lasting effect years in the future. The lineman in football were iffy with going low and same for centers. Low top sneakers also do not increase the chance of spraining your ankle while playing basketball. The real root cause is due to the unnatural element we have introduced to our feet - the shoe. There is little doubt about the fun, excitement, and thrill of skateboarding. .width-2-per.active { position: relative; I found this article about your topic definitely check it out http://breakingmuscle.com/family-kids/high-tops-are-ruining-your-kids-feet-and-knees! Retrieved from Research Gate : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/14831725_High-_versus_low-top_shoes_for_the_prevention_of_ankle_sprains_in_basketball_players_A_prospective_randomized_study, Mark D. Ricard, PhD Effects of High-Top and Low-Top Shoes on Ankle Inversion https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1323436/. .qck-alert.qck-false { Foot experts suggest that you should, therefore, avoid wearing the ankle braces for long.