Rigid fixation orthosis. Orthoses and bandages for the ankle joint. Instructions for use

As a result, the ankle joint takes on the entire weight of a person, therefore, with an increase in mass, the load becomes greater, which means that the wear of the joint is more intense and there is a greater likelihood of injury.

Although the ankle is a fairly reliable system, it is this joint that is at the highest risk. First of all, this is due to a sedentary lifestyle, overweight, lack of physical activity.

Today, the cause of ankle damage can be quite banal - from wearing high heels to simple awkwardness, and this is not to mention the influence of external factors in the form of rain and ice.

Types of orthosis

Each type of cut is designed for different cases, the following types of orthoses are divided:

1. An ankle orthosis for correction is used for foot deformities, for example, with flat feet or from a bone on the thumb;
2. The unloading bandage helps to reduce the load on the sore leg;
3. A fixing orthosis is used for injuries, fractures, dislocations, when there is a need to completely immobilize the limb;
4. Dynamic helps to make ankle movements physiologically correct and prevent injuries.
5. An adjustable orthosis is used for fixation, thanks to a special design, this model allows you to fit the model well under the foot and provide a very secure fit.
6. A pressure orthosis on the ankle joint helps to stop bleeding;
7. Orthoses impregnated with medicine have a local anesthetic and therapeutic effect.

Depending on the design features, there are:

• articulated ankle brace, which consists of hinges and provides normal mobility in the joint
• hingeless version, which in terms of its functional qualities is more reminiscent of a conventional bandage and allows you to get rid of pathological changes in the foot by smoothly changing its shape and size

According to the type of rigidity, soft, medium and hard orthoses and splints are distinguished. All of them are used for different indications, depending on what effect is required from wearing the product.

Soft orthoses are an ankle support, which in action resembles a regular elastic bandage.

The difference between a bandage and a retainer is in ease of use, so the orthosis is easily put on the foot and cannot be pulled, and the bandage needs to be wound for a long time, in addition, you need to learn this so that the bandage is not weak and not too tight.

A soft orthosis is prescribed mainly for prevention, for example, for professional athletes. It is also possible to wear such a product for joint diseases, during remission.

Sometimes doctors will prescribe a soft bandage or orthosis to be worn some time after surgery, when the person is walking a lot, to reduce the risk of injury to a weakened ankle.

Semi-rigid. Such products are used to fix the ankle joint, but at the same time they do not interfere with the motor activity of the foot, and a person can move normally. This effect is ensured by a special design, in which the fixing base is created by special rigid inserts.

Such designs are usually prescribed after injuries, for example, sprains or dislocations, sometimes wearing a semi-rigid orthosis may be indicated even a few weeks after a fracture in order to ensure safe movement of a person for the ankle.


Semi-rigid orthoses are very effective in the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis and arthrosis.

With such pathologies, the joints become inflamed and begin to fray, and the orthosis allows you to fix it well, not allowing the cartilage to collapse, while the patient walks perfectly. With a plaster cast, this is usually not possible.

Rigid orthoses are an excellent protection for the ankle, they are a complex structure made of plastic and iron inserts.

Such a product fixes the ankle very well and resembles a plaster cast in its action.

The ankle brace is very comfortable to use, it is easy to put on and take off, and at the same time it does its job perfectly.

Such a product is usually prescribed for injuries and even fractures, as a replacement for gypsum. Often, the use of a rigid orthosis is indicated after surgery, when it is necessary to immobilize the joint well.

Also, a rigid ankle brace is prescribed for dislocations and even attacks of gout to reduce pain and speed up tissue healing.


A splint is usually prescribed to restore a limb after some kind of injury and even after surgery. They fix the ankle and relieve pain when moving. The splint differs from the orthosis in that it has a different design, in which there are no hinges.

According to patients, the splint is very comfortable to use, it is easy to put on and fixes the leg well, it can be removed and washed when necessary, which ensures good hygiene when wearing the brace.

Such products are used for a variety of pathologies, often a splint can be prescribed for children with cerebral palsy, with ankle fractures, with paralysis and shortening of the limb, and similar designs are also effective in inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the ankle joint, such as deforming arthrosis, etc.



An important point in the treatment of ligaments of the joint is its complete immobilization and fixation. For these purposes, a special lanyard is used. A more modern means of fixation is an ankle orthosis.

The usual bandage, which is used to secure the leg in a certain position, is unreliable, as it can become loose over time.

The joint will be able to move, which will cause pain and may lead to its deformity.

The arguments in favor of the use of an orthosis for an injured ankle joint are quite weighty:

1. when using the latch, the leg is rigidly fixed in a certain position;
2. ligaments grow together faster, the time of treatment of the injured leg is halved;
3. accessibility of the orthosis and ease of use.

The orthosis is made according to modern technologies. In its production, durable, but sufficiently elastic materials are used. In its form, the orthosis is not bulky, it can look like a sock, golf or boots. Fastening methods are different: fasteners, lacing, Velcro, belts and other elements.

Orthosis can have different stiffness. The soft retainer is made of plastic fabrics and looks like a bandage. The semi-rigid ankle brace is equipped with fasteners and is used instead of an elastic bandage.

May have additional rigid inserts in the form of plates. A rigid retainer necessarily contains plastic inserts and special elastic tires.

The choice of the degree of rigidity of the ankle brace depends on the type of joint damage. In order to prevent foot injuries, soft devices are used. For the treatment of more serious injuries, semi-rigid and rigid clamps are used.

The main purpose of an ankle brace is to provide complete rest for the affected leg. When using such a device, the treatment of diseases gives a positive effect.

In addition to accelerating the processes of tissue healing and fusion of ligaments, wearing an orthopedic product for the ankle has the following consequences:

• fixation of the joint to avoid its loosening, resulting in the correct fusion of the ligaments;
• by stabilizing the ankle, ligaments and tendons are strengthened;
• due to the constant wearing of the orthosis, the swelling of the tissues of the leg decreases and the pain disappears;
• limb mobility is often fully restored.

Experts do not recommend that their patients wear ankle orthoses all the time, because this leads to atrophy of the muscles of the foot and lower leg. In case of injuries, on the contrary, wearing a retainer is indicated, in this case the muscles are strengthened, the ligaments grow together correctly.

How to choose an orthosis

The rigidity and type of the necessary bandage is prescribed by the doctor, but the patient has to choose it on his own in an orthopedic store. As a rule, sales assistants help to choose products, who will select options of different cost, exactly the rigidity that the patient needs.

First of all, it is important to find out the exact size, for this one shoe size will not be enough, at home you need to arm yourself with a centimeter tape and take measurements. To do this, measure the length of the foot, the girth of the ankle and ankle, as well as the volume of the lower leg.

All measurements must be written down on a piece of paper and presented to the seller. It is important to understand that each manufacturer may have different sizes, so when choosing an orthosis for the second time, you still need to take measurements and check the table on the package.

If you buy a product without looking, the same size as the previous orthosis, there is a risk of making a mistake. It is also worth noting that if the patient's measurements do not match the size grid, but are somewhere in the middle, then you need to take a smaller option.

If you take an orthosis that is too large for the patient, there will be no sense from it, since it will not be able to securely fix the ankle and will hang on the leg.

When buying a product, you should pay attention to the following factors:

Material. High-quality cuts are made from practical and hypoallergenic materials, they should not have a strong chemical smell, and all fabrics should be comfortable to the touch.

If the patient has allergies to any materials, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the composition of the orthosis on the packaging

Price. It is important to understand that ankle bandages that are too cheap cannot be of high quality, since the manufacturer incurs certain costs in their production.

But it is not necessary to buy the most expensive products, because the price may rise due to the popularity of the manufacturer or beautiful design, and this does not matter in the treatment.