Active Ankle T2 Ankle Brace, Rigid Ankle Stabilizer for Protection & Sprain Support for Volleyball, Cheerleading, Ankle Compression Braces for Men & Women, White, Large

I am a 32 year old male who plays basketball 3 times weekly -- my left ankle has taken on several sprains. Unfortunately, ankle sprains are cumulative, and I either had to find a solution for rolling my ankle or give up basketball. Even as a physician, I was extremely skeptical this would help, but at the urging of my orthopedic colleagues I decided to give it a try.First - as has been mentioned by others - the brace is INITIALLY uncomfortable. A lot of people are going to give up on this too early, which is really their loss (but a reason to ignore their negative comments). The brace requires some breaking in as it conforms to your personal ankle shape. For me, this took three different 1.5 hr sessions. Also, in order to achieve comfort earlier, I'd wear two pairs of socks and put the bottom of the brace UNDER the insole inside the shoe.The reason for my initial skepticism is that I play a point/shooting guard position in which ankle mobility is essential for good cutting and defense. I was certain that anything extra in the shoe or around the ankle that was capable of preventing rolling of the ankle would diminish my lateral movements and general mobility. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. The first few weeks I used it, I knew the brace was there and was cautious, but most of that was because I was still rehabbing from a previous injury. After several weeks, though, I don't really notice it's there and it has not caused me to lose any mobility.Finally, it does just as it advertises. If put on properly, it is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to roll the ankle. The caveat is that it naturally loosens a little as you play, so I just retighten every 30 minutes or so to be safe.I strongly recommend this for basketball use if you are prone to ankle rolling/sprains. I'm thinking about getting one for my other ankle, despite the fact that it is rarely sprained.