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| Braced for Impact: Reducing Military Paratroopers' Ankle Sprains Using Outside-the-Boot Braces |
| Source: Amoroso PJ, Ryan JB, Bickley B, et al: Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care 45(3): 575-580, 1998 |
| Summary: Design principles of an ankle brace that have been successfully used in preventive studies and acute injury management were used to develop an "outside-the boot" ankle brace which was examined for its effectiveness in preventing ankle sprains associated with military parachuting. The authors found that "the outside-the-boot braces prevented lateral or inversion ankle sprains associated with parachute landing and did not cause other types of injuries. The braces reduced the incidence of ankle sprains by 85%." The authors conclude that by using the brace, the potential for ankle injury reduction "would save the taxpayer thousands of dollars per day in lost productivity as well as in direct and indirect medical care costs." |