Holly B. is an active professional in her late twenties who spends her free time playing recreational flag football and league basketball. She shares her experience with us as she explores the world of sports.

One of the things I enjoy with my friends is participating in various athletic activities, from flag football to ultimate frisbee or even a simple weekly "boot camp" where we run and workout together. We recently started doing the Warrior Dash each Spring, which is a 5k run that involves obstacles along the course.

One of my friends Fiona has had previous ankle sprains and other injuries to her left foot. The course we were on last year was relatively flat, so she decided to do the 5k without her ankle brace. As luck would have it, she didn't encounter any trouble while running. But she did jump off one of the obstacles and her ankle gave out as it hit the ground. Doh!

Her biggest regret after that incident was that she wasn't wearing her ankle brace. She didn't think the flat course would cause her any issues so she had decided to go without. I knew exactly how she felt because I did the same thing several months before when I didn't wear my knee brace during flag football. One thing I realize now is that during any physical activity, you never know what you might encounter. You could step on uneven ground, slip over rocks or even just turn your leg in a way that causes unnatural movement. Any of these things can cause strain, sprains or ligament tears.

BetterBraces.com offers several running ankle braces that are ideal for protecting the ankles during physical activities. Fiona's concern was probably that the ankle brace would feel restrictive or inhibit movement while she climbed the obstacles. These ankle braces are designed for maximum comfort and protection:

Aircast A60 Ankle Brace - stabilizes the ankle at its weakest point to help prevent ankle sprains and other injuries. It's perfect for runners because it's comfortable to wear even in your regular shoes.

Aircast Airheel Ankle Brace - helps support the arch of the foot and minimizes ankle strain and plantar fasciitis from physical activities.

DonJoy Double Strap Ankle Wrap - provides low profile and non-bulky ankle support, arch support and gentle compressive stabilization while running.

Check these ankle supports out today and keep your joints healthy while you have fun!