GB2309168A

GB2309168A - Elastic ankle support

Info

Publication number: GB2309168A
Application number: GB9600713A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Russell Davison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-01-16
Filing date: 1996-01-16
Publication date: 1997-07-23
Also published as: GB9600713D0

Description

ANKLE SUPPORT SYSTEM The present invention relates to a new and improved ankle support system.

Currently neoprene ankle supports are designed to help retain the body's own heat resulting in warming of the affected area and increasing local circulation.

Increased local circulation accelerates the body's natural healing process by introducing more proteins into the local area. The circulatory increase also reduces the inflammation of the injured area thus relieving pain and increasing mobility, consequently assisting in the recovery process.

The elastic component of the soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments and tendons are made up of collagen. The stretchability and elasticity of collagen increases with heat, thus the chances of re-injury are reduced due to the heating properties of the support.

Following injury to an ankle there can be much effusion in and around the joint and due to the effect of gravity and the anatomical structure of the ankle joint there is a tendency for the effusion to gather in the hollows of either the lateral malleolus or medial malleolus, the latter being the most usual. This problem prevails with previously known ankle supports.

Another problem which exists with the previously known ankle supports is that they do not substantially assist in preventing a recurrence of an ankle sprain, particularly when the ankle sprain is of an eversion type, which is the most common form of ankle injury. An eversion type sprain is when a person falls over the lateral aspect of the ankle joint.

The present invention is made from a consideration of these problems.

One object of the present invention is to reduce the swelling of the ankle joint particularly in the area of the malleolus.

A further object of the present invention is to prevent a recurrence of an eversion type ankle sprain.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an ankle support system comprising an ankle support structure composed of an elastic material wherein the elastic material has heat retaining properties and wherein the underside of the ankle support structure is tapered, thereby placing the injured ankle structures in a shortened position.

The shortened position of the injured ankle structures allow stresses to be significantly reduced whilst healing takes place. The tapered feature also provides a barrier that must be overcome before recurrence of the sprain is possible.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, pressure means adapted to fit around the malleolus are incorporated into the ankle support structure.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the elastic ankle support structure is an ankle sock and is preferably made of neoprene.

The neoprene sock fits tightly around the ankle joint and helps retain the body's heat to the affected joint thus increasing local circulation. Any elastic material with heat retaining properties may be used in the formation of the ankle sock. Neoprene is preferred due to its excellent heat retaining properties.

Preferably, the pressure means adapted to fit around the malleolus is a pressure pad shaped in the form of a horseshoe. The horseshoe shaped pressure pad fills in the hollows around the malleolus and the effusion that tends to gather there is encouraged away.

The horseshoe shaped pressure pad may be incorporated on the lateral or medial malleolus, and more preferably the lateral malleolus.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a tapered wedge may be incorporated into the underside of the ankle support thus forming the tapered underside of the ankle support. The tapered wedge may be positioned along the lateral or medial border, and preferably the lateral border. The lateral border is preferred due to the fact that most ankle sprains are of an eversion type, which means that most people injure the ankle joint by falling over on the outside or lateral aspect of the ankle joint rather than the inside or medial aspect of the ankle joint.

Preferably, the tapered wedge is thicker along the outside edge and tapers to hardly any thickness where it ends along the centre line on the underside of the foot. Consequently, a recurrence of the sprain is unlikely as the patient would have to overcome the wedge before re-spraining the ankle in the same way. The tapered wedge also places the damaged tissues into a shortened position that facilitates the healing process.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention additional security is provided by a strap. One end of the strap is attached to the uppermost portion of the ankle support. The strap extends downwardly and may wrap around the ankle joint. The other end of the strap is secured to the lowest portion of the ankle support.

The strap is preferably fastened at both ends by means comprising pads of grip material such as a hook or pile fastener attached to the strap. This is secured to the neoprene ankle sock which has a complementary surface-grip material, such as a pile or hook fabric forming a temporary fastening means which cannot be dislodged by shear force but may be dislodged by direct vertical force.

The strap reenforces the ability of the tapered wedge to reduce the likelihood of re-injury by providing both a physical barrier to unwanted forces and by providing a proprioceptive stimulus to the small muscles that support the ankle joint.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention an adjustable fastening means is provided along the uppermost edge of the ankle support.

Preferably, the fastening means may comprise a strip of grip material such as a hook or pile fastener and is adjustably secured via a complementary surfacegrip material such as a pile or hook fabric placed on the underside of the strip.

This allows the tautness of the ankle support around the ankle to be altered with ease.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the ankle support system may extend to provide additional support to the lower leg.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of supporting an injured ankle joint by positioning an ankle support structure around an injured ankle joint, said ankle support structure being composed of an elastic material wherein the elastic material has heat retaining properties and wherein the underside of the ankle support structure is tapered thus placing the injured ankle structures in a shortened position.

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ankle support system in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 1 a is a side elevation of the ankle support system of Fig. 1 extended to provide additional support to the lower leg; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the ankle support of Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is a rear view of the ankle support system of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the underside of the ankle support system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an ankle support system showing an ankle strap affixed to the ankle support system.

Referring to Figs. 1, la and 2 it can be seen that the ankle support system 1 is shaped to form a sock 2 which fits snugly around the ankle joint.

The sock shaped ankle support system is made of neoprene. One edge 3 sits above the ankle. A curved portion 4 is cut away at the front uppermost edge of the neoprene sock. At the edge 3, is secured a fastening means. One portion of a VELCRO (trade mark) strip 5, (i.e., the hook fastener) is attached around the edge. The complementary portion of the VELCRO (trade mark) strip (i.e. the pile fastener) lines the under surface of the strap 5. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the tautness of the ankle support can be altered by fixing the end 1 6 of the strap 5 at differing points along the strip 17. The neoprene sock may extend upwards to provide for the lower leg, as can be seen in Fig. 1a.

The neoprene sock extends downwardly to cover the ankle joint 6. As it extends downwardly, at the lateral malleolus 7, a horseshoe shaped pressure pad 8 is sewn to the inner surface of the neoprene sock. The effusion that gathers around the hollows of the lateral malleolus 7 is encouraged away by the pressure pad 8. The pressure pad 8 may be made from any shock absorbing material and is preferably a cushioned foam material.

Just below the lateral malleolus a curved section 9 of the neoprene sock 2 is cut away to leave the heel uncovered. This allows for ease of movement of the foot.

At the base of the foot is incorporated a tapered wedge, the thick edge 10 of the tapered wedge running along the lateral base of the foot 11.

The upper portion 1 2 of the neoprene sock is stitched along a centre line 13.

The neoprene sock 2 covers a major portion of the foot and is cut away to form edge 14 which leaves the toes uncovered. Close to edge 14 is secured a square portion of a VELCRO (trade mark) strip 15 (i.e., the hook fastener).

This can then be used to fasten the other end of the ankle strap, the under surface of which has the lining of a complementary portion of VELCRO (trade mark) strip.

Referring to Fig. 3, it can be seen that the tapered wedge 18, has a thick edge 9 at the lateral side 20 of the foot. The tapered wedge narrows to hardly any thickness at the centre of the base of the foot 21.

Referring to Fig. 4, the tapered wedge is positioned in place as shown in Fig. 3 and an additional piece of neoprene 22 is sewn onto the base of the sock along all the edges 23 of the additional piece 22 so as to hold the tapered wedge in place.

Referring to Fig. 5, the ankle strap 23 is shown affixed to the neoprene sock at 24, the strap is wrapped around the joint and is affixed at the other end 25 to the square VELCRO (trade mark) strip 26. The strap may be used to alter the tightness of the neoprene sock.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment is by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible.

Claims

1. An ankle support system comprising an ankle support structure composed of an elastic material wherein the elastic material has heat retaining properties and wherein the underside of the ankle support structure is tapered, thereby placing the injured ankle structures in a shortened position.

2. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein pressure means adapted to fit around the malleolus are incorporated into the ankle support structure.

3. An ankle support system as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the pressure means adapted to fit around the malleolus is a horseshoe shaped pressure pad.

4. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the horseshoe shaped pressure pad is incorporated on the lateral malleolus.

5. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the horseshoe shaped pressure pad is incorporated on the medial malleolus.

6. An ankle support system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a tapered wedge is incorporated into the underside of the ankle support to form the tapered underside of the ankle support.

7. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tapered wedge is positioned along the lateral border.

8. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tapered wedge is positioned along the medial border.

9. An ankle support system as claimed in any of claims 7 or 8, wherein the tapered wedge is thicker along the outside edge and tapers to hardly any thickness where it ends along the centre line on the underside of the foot.

10. An ankle support system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a strap is included to provide additional security.

11. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 10, wherein one end of the strap is attached to the uppermost portion of the ankle support.

1 2. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the strap extends downwardly, wraps around the ankle joint and the other end of the strap is secured to the lowest portion of the ankle support.

13. An ankle support system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the strap is fastened to the ankle support by means comprising pads of grip material.

14. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the grip material is a hook or pile fastener attached to the strap and the ankle support has a complementary surface-grip material of a pile or hook fabric.

15. An ankle support system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ankle support structure comprises an adjustable fastening means along the uppermost edge of the ankle support.

16. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the fastening means comprises a strip of grip material attached to the ankle support and a complementary surface-grip material on the underside of a strip, the strip being adjustably secured to the ankle support.

17. An ankle support system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the grip material comprises a pile or hook fabric.

1 8. An ankle support system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ankle support is extended to provide additional support to the lower leg.

19. An ankle support system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elastic ankle support structure is an ankle sock.

20. An ankle support system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elastic ankle support structure is made of neoprene.

21. A method of supporting an injured ankle joint by positioning an ankle support structure around an injured ankle joint, said ankle support structure being composed of an elastic material wherein the elastic material has heat retaining properties and wherein the underside of the ankle support structure is tapered thus placing the injured ankle structures in a shortened position.

22. An ankle support system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.