New lateral orthoses for the ankle

Bauerfeind is adding two new orthoses to its range of products for the ankle: MalleoLoc L and MalleoLoc L3. Worn inside the shoe, these orthoses protect against injury during everyday activities. In the case of both products, the effect is carefully regulated and can be adjusted, and the orthoses combine lateral mechanical stabilization with a proprioceptive effect.

Often it is just minor false steps in everyday situations that destabilize the ankle: the capsular ligaments are overstretched , with the lateral ligaments being particularly affected, and they sometimes even tear. The most common type of injury is a supination trauma and this can result in functional instability. When it comes to both therapy and prevention, the ankle needs support. Stabilizing orthoses provide protection against incorrect movements by only permitting controlled loading and thus minimizing the risk of injury. The MalleoLoc product range now offers many different levels of support.

MalleoLoc L stabilizes with its shell and straps

The new MalleoLoc L ankle orthosis provides lateral stabilization for the upper and lower ankle in the shoe. The anatomically shaped L-shell is positioned on the lower leg, sitting in front of the lateral malleolus and extending across the talus bone. It is fastened at the lower leg and the foot using two non-elastic Velcro straps. The shell and straps prevent both excessive supination and talar shift. Strain on the lateral capsular ligaments is relieved. As an option, a plantar pad can be attached to the midfoot bar to stimulate the foot dorsiflexor muscles when walking. This has a positive influence on sensorimotor function, with active neuromuscular stabilization of the ankle. Thanks to the unilateral and, therefore, flat design of the MalleoLoc L , it can be worn in narrow everyday shoes.

MalleoLoc L3 supports multi-stage therapy

Just like its sister orthosis, the new MalleoLoc L3 stabilizes the upper and lower ankle in the shoe. It also has an L-shaped shell which is fastened at the lower leg and foot using straps. This orthosis also has a unique selling point: the shell and straps are combined with a compression support. This combination makes the MalleoLoc L3 very versatile – and it can be adapted for multi-stage treatment. MalleoLoc L3 offers three levels of stabilization: first of all , complete stabilization with the three elements of shell , straps, and support , secondly moderate stabilization with mechanical protection against twisting by means of the straps and support , and thirdly gentle stabilization provided by the support alone. When the patient is walking, the support massages the soft tissue by means of intermittent compression, so it has a proprioceptive effect and also helps to reduce swelling. It is easy to put on thanks to the zip fastening which sits in between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon. Used to supplement other therapy, the MalleoLoc L3 offers patients the option of choosing the required level of stabilization themselves.

The happy medium between the MalleoLoc and MalleoTrain supports

MalleoLoc L and MalleoLoc L3 are indicated for conservative and post-operative treatment of ankle sprains and torn ligaments, acute and chronic capsular ligament instability, the prevention of injury in cases of chronic ligament instability, and dysfunction caused by inflammation and degeneration.
Compared to the compact MalleoLoc, which has a U-shaped shell to provide both lateral and medial stabilization and can be used with or without a shoe, the new orthoses are flatter and lighter. They provide protection against sprains which occur quickly during everyday movements and minor sporting activities. The MalleoLoc, for its part , offers more mechanical support , providing protection for abrupt , powerful movements and during more intense sporting activities. All three MalleoLoc orthoses prevent excessive supination and talar shift , but without restricting the natural heel-to-toe movement of the foot in any way. In terms of a direct comparison, the MalleoTrain and MalleoTrain Plus muscle-activating supports offer considerably more freedom of movement than the orthoses, since their main function is to reduce pain and swelling, and provide proprioceptive training. They also support conservative and post-operative therapy after sprains and help to prevent repeat injuries. In addition, they are suitable for long-term use in cases of chronic irritation.
MalleoTrain and MalleoTrain Plus actively stabilize the ankle by means of neuromuscular stimulation brought about by the intermittent compression massage provided by the knitted fabric and pads during movement. The anatomically shaped viscoelastic pads are located at the medial and lateral malleolus, where they completely occupy the space on both sides between the malleolus and the Achilles tendon. Consequently, they not only prevent pressure peaks, but also distribute therapeutic compression to areas that are spanned by the knitted fabric. The pain-relieving and muscle-activating effects of the support are therefore further enhanced. MalleoTrain Plus also features a strap system that provides mechanical stabilization.
Due to the pads, both of these supports need a bit more room in the shoe than the new orthoses. These provide active stabilization by means of a small plantar pad which can be attached using Velcro tabs or an integral compression support without pads. With their combined benefits of mechanical support and neuromuscular stimulation, MalleoLoc L and L3 are enhancing the range of therapeutic products for the ankle by providing moderate stabilization options for everyday use that can be worn in just about any shoe.

Images: Bauerfeind