What's the best kind of Ace-type bandage out there?

October 8, 2022 6:08 PM

Twisted my ankle this week and needed an ACE bandage and I thought, "has this tech not changed since I was 5? IS there something better I should have on hand for this sort of sprain that needs compression?" So my question to you is...is there?
posted by rileyray3000 to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

An AirCast inflatable boot can be great if you need to walk on it. You can often find them secondhand online.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:17 PM on October 8, 2022 [2 favorites]

I can't find a link or description of this technique, but it has helped me: put a sock on your good foot, then roll down the top edge. Keep rolling until the sock is off your foot and you have a donut shape.

When you put the bandage on your foot, embed the donut on the side of your so that it compresses the "valley" of normally-indented but probably-swollen flesh around your ankle bone.
posted by amtho at 6:55 PM on October 8, 2022

I bought something like this (Amazon link) from the local store for like 3 bucks and it works great, is easy to put on and take off, and is reusable.
posted by Literaryhero at 7:59 PM on October 8, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'm recovering from a broken ankle, and as I've transitioned out of the boot, my doc prescribed this for me, which would probably work for you.

(And a boot is probably overkill for a sprain—or maybe not, depending on severity—but just in case, this is the one I've been using. It's great. It has an air pumping mechanism so it becomes quite snug, which feels wonderful.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:01 PM on October 8, 2022 [1 favorite]

Yeah, came in to suggest something similar to Literaryhero’s link. I have a Velcro wrap brace thingy intended for wrists, I can flip it to use on either my left or right, which I sometimes use as support during or after a lot of fiber work or hand writing, and a similar one for my ankle, which I use after I’ve rolled my ankle since I’m apparently just destined for a lifetime of that. The problem I have with mine though is that the Velcro gets gunked up with cat fur because I just inevitably take it off in the living room and it gets sat on/cheek rubbed/etc and then the Velcro doesn’t work as well. Ace bandages don’t have this problem and I don’t need a different one for my ankles and wrists, so I still have one anyway. Sometimes simple is still best, although wrapping my dominant wrist is way too hard so I always end up using my Velcro brace for that.
posted by Mizu at 10:04 PM on October 8, 2022

I had a more involved ankle stabilizer brace for my badly twisted ankle, more like this. They did insist on getting it fitted in a physiotherapy shop because it's easy to overtighten it and make things worse. I even got heparin shots for the first two weeks when I was supposed to keep it on for 8+ hours a day, but again it was a bad injury with massive bruising.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:31 PM on October 8, 2022 [3 favorites]

I Like this pull on one.
posted by kbuxton at 11:20 PM on October 8, 2022

There is now self-adherant medical wrap (brand name: 3M Coban) that does a very good job at compression. Got me out of a bad knee injury/scrape with just the right amount of compression and movement.
posted by dobi at 12:12 AM on October 9, 2022 [3 favorites]

Your drug store probably has wrap-ons to apply hot or cold that are more convenient than water bottles or ice packs.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:29 AM on October 9, 2022 [1 favorite]

Coban (a/k/a self-stick bandage) is great because you can wear it in the shower and it dries pretty quickly. Just bear in mind that when you're putting it on, you have to be very conscious that you do not wrap it too snugly. It will compress on its own due to your own body heat as you wear it. You will also want to unroll maybe 10-12" of it out ahead of where you will be wrapping it around your ankle (it sticks to itself on the roll and it will want to spring back on itself, making itself tighter as you wrap it). You should be able to fit a few fingers under the wrap once it's done - not like it's a t-shirt, but kind of like a bathing suit - if that makes sense.

There are several good wrapping techniques you can find on YouTube, depending on where your foot hurts. Look for Physical Therapists, Podiatrists, or Orthopedists. I've always gone with the 'figure 8' technique, but if you have a lot of swelling, you may want to go with a kind of 'mummy' wrap from your toes up toward your calf. That one is a little more difficult to keep in place around your heel, but it can be done - especially with Coban.

Pro Tip: 1) You can buy Coban on Amazon for *way* cheaper on Amazon if you do a search for 'vet wrap', and it comes in all kinds of cool colors. 2) Don't try to unwrap and reuse it. It won't stay sticky enough. You have to use scissors to get it off. Do NOT hesitate to do this if you feel it getting too tight, *especially* at night.

I truly sympathize, as I've had waaaay too many ankle injuries and surgeries than a normal person should ever have to deal with; I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Feel better soon!
posted by dancinglamb at 8:31 AM on October 9, 2022 [5 favorites]

What dancinglamb said. Coban branded as VetWrap is the way to go. I have a dozen rolls of various widths in the first aid kits. Use it for sprains and also to wrap cuts (with the addition of a gauze pad).
posted by DaveP at 12:21 PM on October 9, 2022 [1 favorite]

The Zenith lace-up ankle brace is what you need! I have had easily-sprained ankles since 2001, and when I sprained an ankle this spring, this is what the medical supply company gave me. It immobilizes the ankle in 4 different directions, and as the swelling goes down, you can tighten it more due to the lace-up style.

And don't forget to ice frequently and often. Good luck
posted by honey badger at 1:40 PM on October 9, 2022

If you're going to use Vet Wrap, get a pair of paramedic shears for cutting it off.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:43 AM on October 10, 2022