My husband and I are both accident-prone. We haven’t always been that way. It seems the older we get, the less steady our balance, which leads to a lot of bumps, bruises and sprains. One of the most common is a sprained ankle.
Sometimes when you sprain an ankle support is required until the foot is thoroughly healed. There are several products in the marketplace to help with such support. Some provide minor support via a constrictive fabric. Others provide boning or contain metal limit foot movement.
Most people will only need the former for a simple sprain. This can be done via wrapping or a specially made sock support.
Dollar Tree carries a sock support that works relatively well and only costs $1. It is called the Assured Ankle Support. Made in China, the product is distributed by Greenbrier International, Inc. in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The Assured Ankle Support works somewhat like a sock. However, the heel and top one half of it remains open. That is to allow your skin some room to breathe. There are two navy colored support socks in each package.
The company makes several claims regarding this product. They are as follows:
It is comfortable. While obviously the product is meant to offer support to the ankle, the constriction quality of the fabric is not too rigid. There is enough room for comfortable foot movement.
Over the course of the day; however, the support can cause a slight amount of swelling, which some people may not like. That can, in turn, result in minor discomfort. For the most part; however, it isn’t anything major. Therefore, I don’t hesitate to give the Assured Ankle Support 4 out of 5 stars.
It will work in conjunction with most sporting activities. Once again, the constriction quality of this support should not inhibit any of the natural movement of the foot. It provides support but not rigidity. That is why it should be safe to wear for most sports activities. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
You can wear it everyday. While that is true, during the healing time required for the ankle, this isn’t a product that should be worn consistently when no need exists. It can slightly inhibit blood flow if constriction becomes too tight. Over time, that could become a problem for some individuals. I give this claim 3 out of 5 stars.
Both men and women can use it. The Assured Ankle Support stretches significantly. That means that is can fit almost any adult size foot. Nonetheless, keep in mind, that the bigger the foot and ankle, the more likely the constrictive properties of the product.
In the same respect, the smaller the foot and ankle, the less effective the product might be. It is, therefore, not recommended for use on children. It won’t likely provide sufficient support. I give the Assured Ankle Support 3 out of 5 stars on this claim.
With a possible 14 out of 20 stars, for an average rating of 3.2 stars. that means the Assured Ankle Support is a reasonably solid product. It isn’t the best on the market but it will do the job in many instances.
The Assured Ankle Support is washable. It can be washed by hand or in the washing machine. However, it should not be placed in bleach or home dry cleaned.
I actually recommend washing it alone and laying it flat to dry. Do not put the support in the dryer. Heat will damage the fibers and negate their validity. For that reason, avoid ironing this product as well.
Obviously the $1 price tag is a big bonus when it comes to this product. With two supports per box, that makes the product a mere $.50 apiece. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I like this product. I consider it a tremendous buy and an effective support. What more can a consumer ask?
RATING SCALE:
5 stars = outstanding
4 stars = good
3 stars = average
2 stars = below average
1 star = poor
