FLA OrthopedicsSwede-O Inner Lok 8 Ankle Brace, Large Black

I've spent 35 years doing Family Medicine, though I purchased this item for myself after a lower fibula fracture and tibia-fibula ligament tear, as a step-down after 6 weeks in an Air Cast.This is a quality, US made product that will probably last for a long time. Check shipping times, though. I ordered mine during the Covid-19 lockdown, and delivery took roughly 2 weeks, though that may not be typical. .This design has the following advantages when a moderate level of support is needed. It's not elastic, but the lace-up design limits swelling. It is thin enough that a cold or warm pack would still be effective, and can be worn in the majority of lace-up shoes, at least men's shoes, including athletic footwear. It allows some range of motion, but will tend to limit excessive rolling (inversion) of the ankle of the type seen most commonly in ankle sprains, and will tend to prevent re-inury (tearing of the ligaments) during healing.It works well for people with significant ligament injury (grade 2 or grade 3 sprains), and is easy to wear for the 6-12 weeks that recovery from more severe sprains can take, or after cast removal with fractures. It will not, however, limit rotational stress around the axis of the shin bone; for that, a fiberglass cast, Air Cast or Cam Walker would be needed.It also works for athletes recovering from ankle sprains and returning to activity, or people who have weak ankles and are playing sports with a lot of lateral movement like basketball or racquet sports, though less so for people doing long distance running. Ankle taping also works for team sports situations, but if you can't be bothered to spend 20 minutes doing ankle taping, and then removing the tape afterwards, and don't have a trainer, a Swedo-boot design is a more convenient option.As regards the various subsidiary features of different lace-up Swedo-boot type designs, I would defer to any trainers out there.