Thermoplastic Resin Creates Custom-Fit Brace

Have you noticed that most all ankle braces are made with either fabric in the case of lace-ups, or rigid plastics in the case of stirrup or hinged designs?

When designing a modern preventative ankle brace to replace the century old lace-up corset design we were faced with some overwhelming design challenges. We did not want to use a fabric material because fabric stretches and loosens the longer you wear it. Plus it collects bacteria and can develop an unpleasant odor, even after laundering.  However, making a low-profile, tight-fitting preventative ankle brace using a rigid plastic would be significantly uncomfortable. Our design goal was to develop a bridge material between fabric and rigid plastics.

We developed an advanced thermoplastic resin material called Performathane^® custom-fit soft shell technology which will change everything you think about ankle bracing.

The unique properties of a thermoplastic resin is that it will flex and form to the ankle with body heat generated during a practice or game. This unique forming property drove us to develop the first preventative ankle brace that will custom-fit to the ankle, the Ultra Zoom^®. 

Just after a brief break-in period of a practice or two, the Performathane soft shell form-fits to the ankle.  The benefits of a custom-fit ankle brace are significant.  It’s incredibly comfortable, lower profile, tighter fitting and more supportive because it takes the shape of the ankle.

Now you have a choice when it comes to recommending a preventative ankle brace to your athletes. Corset lace-ups restrict range of motion, loose support rapidly, collect bacteria and stink, are a pain to fit and they wear out quickly. Contrast this century old lace-up design to the advanced Ultra Zoom^®, a custom-fit low profile performance ankle brace that allows full range of motion for long lasting ankle support.  The Ultra Zoom^® is easy to apply, fits in any athletic shoe and offers multi-season durability which makes it a great value over lace-ups.