Comparison of DonJoy® Ankle Ligament Protector and Aircast® Sport-Stirrup™ Orthoses in Restricting Foot and Ankle Motion before and after Exercise

Clinicians are often faced with the task of selecting ankle orthoses for patients who have incurred an ankle sprain injury. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the Donjoy® Ankle Ligament Protector and the Aircast® Sport-Stirrup® in limiting foot and ankle motion before and after exercise. Subjects were eight males and eight females with no history of ankle injury during the 6 months prior to testing, neurological condition, lower extremity arthritis, lower extrem ity fracture, or cardiac or balance problems. A Biodex dynamometer and computer were used to impose passive moments and to measure eversion and inversion prior to application of the ankle orthoses, following application, and following 10 minutes of figure-of-eight running and 20 unilateral toe raises. Both ankles of each subject were assessed for each ankle orthosis. Subjects also rated the orthoses for comfort, stability, and cosmetic acceptability. Both ankle orthoses significantly reduced eversion and inversion following application and following exercise compared to preapplication measurements. Eversion measurements increased significantly following exercise for both ankle orthoses. Eversion measurements for the two orthoses did not differ following exercise. Inversion measurements following application and following exercise were less for the Donloy Ankle Ligament Protector orthosis than for the Aircast Sport-Stirrup orthosis. The results of this study may assist clinicians in selecting either of these orthoses for use in protection against ankle sprain injury.