Will the rigid ankle braces slow me down or impede my performance?
There is no evidence that this is the case. If anything Active Ankle braces can only help your performance by keeping your ankles healthy and you in the game. According to research, the Active Ankle rigid brace performed best in a range of motion test when compared to tape and lace-ups. So although you may perceive the rigid brace to slow you down, look past that and look at the facts and give it a try.

Will ankle braces cause my ankles to weaken?
There is no evidence that suggests that ankle bracing weakens the ankle. Our ankle braces are not engineered to be so restrictive that the ankle cannot function on it's own. The brace is only there for a support. It allows your normal range of motion. In fact, having tape or ankle braces on a body part usually increases proprioception-your body's awareness of where it is in space-and therefore makes your body more quickly able to respond to outside forces. You can still injure your ankle while wearing braces, but the injury will be far less serious than if you did not have a brace on. We also must stress the importance of strength and conditioning as part of your regimen if you are concerned about your ankles becoming weak.

Can I sprain my ankle wearing an ankle brace?
While your injury will be far less severe wearing rigid ankle braces versus not wearing braces at all, it is a possibility. With an ankle brace, you may experience a day to a week of down time depending on the severity of the injury, without bracing you are usually looking at 6 weeks out from your normal activity.

Will an ankle brace cause a knee injury if the force is strong enough?
There is no evidence to prove that is the case. If the force is strong enough to cause a knee injury and the circumstances are correct, you will suffer a knee injury regardless if you are wearing the Active Ankle braces or not. Thus, they are not a cause for knee injury, but for prevention of ankle injuries

What is the difference between a rigid brace and a lace-up brace?
The difference is really in level of protection. Rigid braces offer the highest level of preventative and post injury support while maintaining the full range of motion to perform at the most competitive level. Lace-up braces are the most affordable preventative support without sacrificing comfort or freedom of movement for athletes at all levels.

How long can I expect my Active Ankle rigid brace to last?
This answer is different for everyone and really depends on your personal activity level. If you are very active and play a team sport seasonally as well as other organized sports throughout the year, you should replace your Active Ankle brace every year. If you only use the Active Ankle brace occasionally for recreational sports, you may be able to keep your Active Ankle brace for at least 2 years or more depending on how hard you are on the braces. Think of our braces like a pair of athletic shoes. After a year or so, they will start to wear out and the Active Ankle brace wears out very much the same way. We also offer replacement parts for rigid braces including a strap kit, exercise pads and overhaul kit.

How can I tell if my rigid brace is worn out and needs to be replaced?
Hold the brace upright in the palm of your hand, if the side supports fall over on their own the brace has lost its ability to provide maximum support and is too loose to continue to wear. We also offer replacement parts for rigid braces including a strap kit, exercise pads and overhaul kit.

Which rigid brace is the best for me?
All of our rigid braces provide great support; it really depends on personal preference. We have several choices depending on your support needs, your comfort preferences, visit each rigid product for the features and benefits to see which is best for you.

Will the Active Ankle brace fit my shoe?
Absolutely. We recommend a low top shoe or athletic shoe for best fit, but many of our braces, especially the lace-ups, will fit in other types of shoes as well.

Do the ankle braces come in pairs or are they sold individually?
Each brace is sold individually not as a pair.

Do I need to wear the braces on both ankles or is it okay to wear a brace on just one?
This is an individual decision. Those who only wear one usually only use the brace as protective gear after an injury, those who wear braces on both ankles usually wear them for preventative reasons.

How do you recommend cleaning the rigid braces?
We recommend that you hand wash the pads and straps as needed and then allow them to air dry. You can also replace the pads and straps by purchasing our strap kit, pad kit or the overhaul kit, which includes the pads and straps plus a rivet, back strap, and heel pad.

Why does the T1 have two straps and the T2 have one strap, it doesn't make sense?
The T1 was our first brace design with two straps for a more customizable fit. When we came out with our next brace, naturally we called it T2 because it was our second brace, but on this model we had consumer feedback looking for a brace that would be quicker to put on, thus the one strap.