TY - JOUR
T1 - Ankle sprain bracing solutions and future design consideration for civilian and military use
AU - Zhao Dubuc, Yingjun
AU - Mazzone, Brittney
AU - Yoder, Adam J.
AU - Esposito, Elizabeth Russell
AU - Kang, Tae Hoon
AU - Loh, Kenneth J.
AU - Farrokhi, Shawn
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Introduction: Ankle sprains are common injuries within the civilian and military populations, with lingering symptoms that include pain, swelling, giving-way, and a high likelihood for recurrence. Numerous bracing systems are available to stabilize the ankle joint following sprains, with new design iterations frequently entering the market. Currently available braces generally include sleeve, lace-up, and stirrup designs. Sleeves provide mild compression and warmth but limited stability for the ankle, while lace-ups and stirrups appear to be more effective at preventing and treating lateral ankle sprains. Areas covered: This review summarizes the use of various brace options in practice. Their major clinical benefits, and limitations are highlighted, followed by an overview of emerging concepts in brace design. Current advancements in biomechanical simulation, multifunctional material fabrication, and wearable, field-deployed devices for human injury surveillance are discussed, providing possibilities for conceiving new design concepts for next-generation smart ankle braces. Expert opinion: Performance of the commercially available braces are limited by their current design concepts. Suggestions on future brace design include: (1) incorporating high-performance materials suitable for extreme environments, (2) leveraging modeling and simulation techniques to predict mechanical support requirements, and (3) implementing adaptive, customizable componentry material to meet the needs of each unique patient.
AB - Introduction: Ankle sprains are common injuries within the civilian and military populations, with lingering symptoms that include pain, swelling, giving-way, and a high likelihood for recurrence. Numerous bracing systems are available to stabilize the ankle joint following sprains, with new design iterations frequently entering the market. Currently available braces generally include sleeve, lace-up, and stirrup designs. Sleeves provide mild compression and warmth but limited stability for the ankle, while lace-ups and stirrups appear to be more effective at preventing and treating lateral ankle sprains. Areas covered: This review summarizes the use of various brace options in practice. Their major clinical benefits, and limitations are highlighted, followed by an overview of emerging concepts in brace design. Current advancements in biomechanical simulation, multifunctional material fabrication, and wearable, field-deployed devices for human injury surveillance are discussed, providing possibilities for conceiving new design concepts for next-generation smart ankle braces. Expert opinion: Performance of the commercially available braces are limited by their current design concepts. Suggestions on future brace design include: (1) incorporating high-performance materials suitable for extreme environments, (2) leveraging modeling and simulation techniques to predict mechanical support requirements, and (3) implementing adaptive, customizable componentry material to meet the needs of each unique patient.
KW - Ankle brace
KW - ankle brace design
KW - ankle sprain
KW - chronic ankle instability (CAI)
KW - human-performance monitoring
KW - musculoskeletal modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125406503&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17434440.2022.2039622
DO - 10.1080/17434440.2022.2039622
M3 - Article
C2 - 35130797
AN - SCOPUS:85125406503
SN - 1743-4440
VL - 19
SP - 113
EP - 122
JO - Expert Review of Medical Devices
JF - Expert Review of Medical Devices
IS - 2
ER -