Ankle sprains are one of the most common surgical injuries in clinic. In this article, the foot anatomy structure was elaborated, and the biomechanics of ankle ligaments during sports was mainly reviewed. At the same time, the mechanism of ankle sprains was analyzed, the principal means of ankle sprains, prevention and rehabilitation at present were summarized, and the use of ankle braces to prevent ankle sprains as well as its research progress were introduced emphatically. The classification and characteristics of ankle braces were then summarized, and the prevention of ankle sprains and development of ankle braces were prospected. The multiple ankle lateral ligament damage was due to the physiological structure differences between lateral and medial ligaments of the ankle joints, and such structure characteristic should be considered while improving ankle braces and designing new ankle braces. Wearing ankle braces plays a key role in ankle sprains protection, which can shorten the recovery time and avoid re-injury in clinical rehabilitation. For rehabilitation of severe ankle sprains, semi-rigid ankle braces are better than elastic ones.