Ankle Instability & the EXO-L Brace

When an ankle keeps giving way

One bad sprain is often not the end of it. The ligaments heal, but the strength, balance and position sense that were keeping the ankle safe do not always come back with them, and the ankle starts going on kerbs, on uneven ground, or on a change of direction.

Ankle sprains are the most common foot and ankle injury ACC covers, and for a lot of people the second and third arrive faster than the first. Each one takes a bit of confidence with it, until you are watching the ground instead of the game.

The EXO-L works like a seat belt

Most ankle braces work by limiting movement. They put walls up on every side, which is why they are bulky, why they change the way you walk, and why so many of them end up in a drawer.

The EXO-L does the opposite. It leaves your ankle to move freely and then catches it at the point where the ligaments would otherwise be overstretched, the same way a seat belt lets you lean forward for the radio and locks when it matters.

Because it only has one job to do, it can stay slim. It sits outside the shoe, attaching to small patches fitted to the shoes you already wear, and the straps tension up or down depending on what you are doing.

Made from a scan of your own ankle

There is no sizing chart and no guesswork. We assess your foot and ankle first, then 3D scan them, and that scan becomes the prescription.

The scan is taken here in Masterton. The brace is designed in Holland, printed in Australia, and comes back to us to be hand finished and fitted to your shoes.

Who it tends to suit

The EXO-L is worn by adults and children, and it is usually the right conversation if you have:

• Sprained the same ankle more than once, and expect to do it again
• Chronic ankle instability, or an ankle that feels like it might give way
• Hypermobile ankles
• A sport with fast acceleration, deceleration and changes of direction
• Work that keeps you on your feet or on uneven ground, from retail and nursing through to building sites
• A child who is on their feet all day at school
• A general feeling of being unsteady, and a worry about falling

How the process works

Every ankle behaves differently, so it starts with an assessment rather than an order form.

Book an assessment online →

Funding: ACC may help

Cost is usually the first question and it is a fair one. Some EXO-L braces are covered by ACC, at ACC's discretion, and if your ankle problem follows an injury it is worth asking. There is paperwork to complete for the application and we do that with you. If you hold health insurance, ask your provider whether your policy covers orthotics.

Why Masterton Foot Clinic

We were the first clinic to bring the EXO-L to the Wairarapa and we hold the exclusive rights to it here, so the assessment, the scan, the fitting and the follow up all happen in the one place, with the people who will still be here afterwards.

Bracing is a particular area of interest for this clinic. We fit a full range, from simple supports through to custom and external AFO systems, and our philosophy is to prescribe the least restrictive device that makes a real difference to your mobility, safety and confidence. Some of our own podiatrists wear the EXO-L in the clinic.