Choosing the right ankle brace or support can vary based on your specific condition. For general relief from pain and swelling, a low-profile support featuring medical-grade compression can be all that's needed to reduce symptoms. However, for relief from acute or chronic conditions, such as sprained ankles, shin splints and Achilles tendonitis, a more supportive ankle brace designed to help treat the condition will be more beneficial for recovery.

We highly recommend speaking with your healthcare provider to select an ankle brace or support that best aligns with your treatment plan and situation.

A good ankle brace or support is shaped to perfectly fit the anatomical contours of the foot. If you look at your ankles, you’ll notice a slight variation or subtle difference between the left and right sides. Bauerfeind’s ankle braces and supports account for this difference to provide optimum relief and stability to the individual structures of the ankle. For this reason, you should only wear the support on the side it is designed for and not on the other side.

Generally speaking, Bauerfeind’s ankle braces and supports can be worn in any shoes, from sandals and sneakers to work shoes, because of their breathable and lightweight design. There is no need for special shoes. Please make sure that there is no constriction in the region of the integrated pressure pads, if applicable.

In any case, we recommend temporarily wearing the brace inside the shoe to make sure it fits correctly and comfortably before going on long walks or engaging in activity. If you require a rigid brace following an ankle injury, it is recommended that you wear a sturdy shoe. This combination will provide the optimum level of effectiveness and stability.

We advise that you never wear Bauerfeind’s ankle braces and supports over socks. The additional material can lead to chafing and limit the support’s effectiveness, as it’s designed to be worn in contact with the skin.

Direct contact with the skin is the only way to achieve the proprioceptive effect that creates additional stability in the joint. This is also the case for the sensorimotor function. In addition, wearing clothing beneath the support will impair the function of specific elements that work to relieve strain, compress the joint, or provide a massaging effect, which is why it should never be done.

Bauerfeind’s ankle braces and supports are designed to provide support and relief during activity. This is also where the term “active support” comes from, as the full effect of our braces and supports is only experienced during movement. Therefore, you can give your ankle a bit of freedom overnight and take the support off for sleeping or long periods of rest.

Yes, Bauerfeind ankle braces and supports are machine washable, and we recommend regularly washing them using cold/cool water in the gentle or delicate cycle before laying them flat to air-dry, as this will help maintain the product’s fit, comfort and effectiveness. It’s fine to wash using regular laundry detergent, but avoid using additives (such as fabric softener or Woolite), as this can damage the knit fabric.

For products with Velcro straps, fasten them securely at the place provided on the brace. For more information, please visit Bauerfeind’s Product Care Guide.

While there are many ways that an ankle brace can enhance stability, Bauerfeind’s ankle braces do so by promoting proprioceptive feedback using medical-grade compression. In this way, you receive more joint support without limiting ankle mobility and experiencing muscle atrophy, allowing you to continue confidently living an active lifestyle.

Some options, such as the MalleoTrain Plus and Sports Ankle Support, also use an adjustable figure-8 strap system for enhanced joint support.