Custom ankle braces for jumping?

[grandprixer]

Hi all. Decided I hated not riding more than I hate my knee, so I pushed the second surgery back to late December.

SO - that means the issues I’ve been ignoring I have to deal with sooner rather than later.

Basically, my left ankle is garbage. It’s severely unstable and weak, despite physical therapy, bracing/taping, and wedged stirrups. It’s not a super big deal on the flat, but it’s becoming a problem over fences.

Over fences, up to about 2’9", I’ve been able to get away with pinching my knee and not putting my full weight into my heels like I’m supposed to - an exceptionally bad habit, I know. I’m working on it and can jump “normally” when I think hard about it.

Recently, the fences have been going up in height. I’m very aware I need to deal with the ankle before long - my horse is a very powerful jumper and I need to be able land and not have my ankle collapsing underneath me, especially if I want to stay at this height of keep going up.

So elastic bandages, kt tape, and other small supportive bandages don’t work at all. Anything bigger doesn’t fit under my tall boots. The best thing I’ve been able to find seems to be an unhinged AFO - has anyone ridden in one? I’m planning on asking my ortho next time I go in, but I’d like to get some ideas first.

So any ideas other than a custom AFO to ride in? It MUST fit under tall boots.

TIA!

[grandprixer]

Here’s what I’m eyeing, but with flat laces.

[Jo]

Can you experiment with different stirrups? I’ve got a bionic left leg and have recently found that I can no longer use jointed stirrups but a solid stirrup with a wide footbase works best for me.

[grandprixer]

@Jo

Can you experiment with different stirrups? I’ve got a bionic left leg and have recently found that I can no longer use jointed stirrups but a solid stirrup with a wide footbase works best for me.

I’ve tried a few, but I’m too poor to experiment with the nicer stirrups and no one I know has some I can borrow.

I did try wedges, but my ankle just folded the other way and I went over his shoulder on landing :dead:.

[Darkwave]

@grandprixer

Here’s what I’m eyeing, but with flat laces.

I don’t see the link. Could you repost? I’m interested in this topic myself, as someone with a lousy ankle.

Never mind - I see the link now - it just didn’t come across before, for some reason.

[Jo]

@grandprixer

I’ve tried a few, but I’m too poor to experiment with the nicer stirrups and no one I know has some I can borrow.

I did try wedges, but my ankle just folded the other way and I went over his shoulder on landing :dead:.

They don’t have to be one of the brand names! I got my wide footbed ones from a FB group for $30 shipped and they aren’t that Composti brand… actually a nice substantial stirrup.

Good luck! Trying to find the right combo is a struggle for sure. I wore lace up paddocks with half chaps when I was in my air cast for weeks. It worked decently well!

[grandprixer]

@Darkwave

I don’t see the link. Could you repost? I’m interested in this topic myself, as someone with a lousy ankle.

I thought I added a hyperlink! I’ll repost both.

My misbehaving lower leg and gorgeous horse - https://imgur.com/a/nCZyniw

Brace I’m eyeing - https://imgur.com/a/z0UAaW7

[grandprixer]

@Jo

They don’t have to be one of the brand names! I got my wide footbed ones from a FB group for $30 shipped and they aren’t that Composti brand… actually a nice substantial stirrup.

Good luck! Trying to find the right combo is a struggle for sure. I wore lace up paddocks with half chaps when I was in my air cast for weeks. It worked decently well!

I’ll keep an eye out!

[Pally]

Would this maybe fit?
https://www.orthomed.ca/index.php/ai…RoC9OkQAvD_BwE

I have this kind which offers great support, but I doubt it would fit under a self-respecting tall boot (I dunno, I don’t ride with mine. It’s activities that bend my ankle the other way I need a brace for.) Maybe if you strip the laces entirely and just rely on the straps plus the boot?
https://www.orthomed.ca/index.php/as…hoCbB8QAvD_BwE

ETA…just went to close my tabs and noticed this variation. Might be worth a try
https://www.orthomed.ca/index.php/medspec-aso-vortex-ankle-stabilizing-orthosis?___store=default&gclid=CjwKCAjwoc_8BRAcEiwAzJevtaD-ePuEGShBMsnStWZI8Pv0MpM6xCJ7PVbeCrQ5SdV7jdYQRtoNOBoC3bMQAvD_BwE

[maggiemae]

I used the ASO ankle stabilizer after my ankle surgery. It fit fine inside my paddock boot and half chaps. If you don’t have zipper tall boots, I don’t think you will get them on with this brace. It did give me alot of stability that I needed until I got my ankle strong enough (and felt comfortable riding without it).

[hairystockings]

I second looking at the compositi stirrups if you want to try a wide foot bed. They’re only $40 or so. About half our barn has switched to them.

[Darkwave]

I’ll just dump some information, on the off chance it’s helpful.

I’m not riding currently, but as I noted above, I also have an awful ankle with chronic instability - an MRI confirmed chronic sprains/tears to many of the ligaments, with the ATF ligament being the worst.

I’m also a long distance runner, and was having a lot of trouble (no surprise). I bought two of these (one for right and one for left, since the left is heading where the right one is) and have found them very helpful. I don’t know if they’re quite what you are looking for (you mentioned already trying bandages and I’m not sure if these fall under that category). But thought I’d throw them out there. I can confirm that they would fit very well under a riding boot.

I’ll also note in passing that I’m currently getting PRP in my ankle to try to fix the ligaments up - did the first round two weeks ago and go back in another two weeks for round two. Like you, PT is not enough for the ankle, but at the same time I’m not quite ready for surgery yet. Hence PRP as the middle ground. If you are interested, I can try to remember to check back in a few months to report whether it worked