OPED VACOtalus Ankle Brace for sprains, Achilles Injuries, Support, Tendon Injuries

It's been a year since I shattered my right ankle and had it repaired with pins and plates. I devoutly did my PT exercises. I'm nearing 70 years old. I've tried a variety of ankle products with no real steadfast assistance for the pain. Not the side with the plate, but the inner ankle bone with 3 screws sporadically would shoot pain up my leg to the point of almost making me collapse. Any unexpected twist or slight turn would have me grabbing for anything for support. I'm not embarrassed to use a cane. But carrying a laundry basket or groceries while using a cane is not functional. I bought this brace. It's a little pricey...have to use it in a wide shoe ( I already had some upper sizes while healing. It's a tie shoe so my toes just have extra wiggle room. Brooks). I have been helping on the farm for harvest...walking with no issues...even on uneven ground...and stepping on walnuts that have fallen off trees. It's given me the support and confidence I needed. It even seems to be helping with the pain in my left hip. Very little ankle discomfort...just a little over the plate. I know everyone's injuries are different. I know it won't fit in every shoe I own. However, when I do take it off at night, my leg and ankle both feel stronger and more flexible without discomfort. Maybe my foot gets lined up appropriately with the brace. It took about a half day to adjust to wearing it. It's not invisible. It feels like a brace. But I would recommend it in heartbeat. It's definitely engineered differently than others...offers excellent support which helps alleviate pain and boost confidence. It's adjustable. I wear a size 7-8 shoe and purchased a small. There is padding on the interior for both ankle bones. I'm not ready for the rocking chair yet!

Thanks to a stroke several ago, I supinate and have moderate foot drop on one side. I am also an avid cyclist on a competitive amateur level. I have tried every brace, from full heavy duty medical, to "over-the-counter" braces like Zamst and Aircast - both excellent provided you don't have foot drop. I have spent many hundreds of dollars experimenting with, attempting to modify, and suffering miserably with braces that never worked the way I wanted them to. I wanted a brace that controlled the supination, helped me with the foot drop, and was comfortable and reasonably stealthy. All I ever got over the years was constant back pain, foot pain, increasingly diminished balance, and very poor gait. When I saw the Vacotalus brace, I chuckled a bit at the talus strap - it just seemed a bit gimmicky (it is actually one of the best features of this brace). And it was a few coins so I almost passed it by. But I decided to take a chance and I am so very glad I did. After putting it on, the first things I discovered was that it was easy, very light, but incredibly it completely restored my balance and gave me almost normal heel strike and gait. I still can't believe it. I have now put it to the test in pretty much every demanding situation-heavy bike riding, challenging terrain. When I need it, and about the only time I realize I'm wearing it, is when I need its support. And it is there, and provides the immediate support I need to feel confident. He really has been quite life-changing, actually. I now find myself working on unlearning all the terrible habits I fell into over the past several years. I'll buy another one soon, just so I'll have two. It totally works for me. But, if you are reading this review and you have a similar foot drop issue - but are in the high moderate or more level of foot drop, you might need something a little more heavy duty. The Step Smart brace is excellent but a bit more industrial than I needed at this point. Update: I had a chance to try out the effectiveness of this brace in the real world. I’m going down the flight of stairs, I missed a step and landed on my braced left foot, a drop of approximately 4 feet. Had I not been wearing the Oped Vacotalus brace, I would have turned my ankle, either sprained or broken, and fallen. Instead, I landed almost completely flat and stable, startled but otherwise perfectly fine. I’ve tried just about every competitors brace. None would have worked so well. Not even close.

I have worn a large plastic AFO for many years and am trying to wean myself off due to severe calf atrophy. I researched this product and bought it because it offers ankle stability. I have worn it for 5 days now and it works just as well as the AFO I wore for years. I can feel my calf starting to kick in some too. My best friend told me it looks better too "more like a sports injury an less like a medical appliance". Down side: I am not crazy about the neon coloring. It does not match my clothing very well.

I didn't want to sit around urgent care for six hours just to have them give me a boot and send me home, so I Doctor Googled and diagnosed myself with Achilles tendonitis (already had plantar fasciitis so knew it wasn't that). I tried a compression sock-type brace and it did nothing. This brace is expensive, but after reading about it decided to give it a shot. I've been limping around for about four months on this foot, with pain to the point that as the day went on I didn't want to even walk across the room. The very first day I wore this brace, it was better. I've had it for about five days now and am able to walk relatively pain-free. It gets better every day. I can walk and do things without constantly being reminded that my foot hurts. So yes, expensive, but it does work. One thing I learned is to not put it on too tightly. It does fit in my shoes if I lace them loosely, so probably won't work if you have right shoes.

Don’t waste your money with this product. Just like you are contemplating, I was willing to give this brace a try so I ordered it to check it out. The product is over manufactured and complicated in its design without providing any additional stability to the ankle; certainly no more than any other much more comfortable and user friendly ankle brace. The brace felt cumbersome on my ankle and was not comfortable for the brief period I tried it on in my house. Btw, I’m a physician, and have tried and used many other products which I found to be easier to use and more comfortable to wear without sacrificing stability to the ankle. Finally, to top it off, I returned the product in completely new condition, all labels and packaging intact and this seller charged me a “restocking” fee even though it clearly states that a fee of up to 50% “may” be charged on “used or damaged” items. So, bottom line, save your money and time, look at other products.

This protects the Achilles from major tension due to the rigid plastic posterior leg and heel lining. The front stretch nylon Velcro straps allow you to adjust to desired tightness. This doesn’t provide the immobility of a full boot, but will do the job of keeping the tendon from much movement and certainly protecting the tendon from explosive extension and further injury. Comfort: pretty good Excellent that it fits in a loosely laced shoe. I would recommend the product if you need more immobilization and protection than a neoprene or nylon sleeve, but don’t want or need to wear a full on fracture boot.

I really wanted to like this brace but just can't get it to fit right. I have smaller feet and ankles and the straps on the brace just seem to be at the wrong angle to get a good fit. And the portion that runs under the foot itself is downright painful. I greatly prefer the lace-and-wrap style of brace in terms of both comfort and support. It seems well made, but it's not made for me.

LIke: Adjustable fit. Talus support makes a huge difference for my talar dome injury. Very sturdy. Probably would have re injured myself walking without it in the 6 months after my injury. Dislike: Some of the material is pretty hard and can cut into your flesh - requires a full length sock. Bulky, and has pretty much deformed any shoes I’ve worn with it. Don’t expect to wear this with anything other than a sandal or sneaker type shoe. Can make very low cut shoes slip off. Overall: Product was shipped promptly and seems a good value for the price. Definitely does its job. Will last a long time. I wish they made a softer version for more casual protection now that I don’t need quite so much support. In some ways it’s the most comfortable ankle brace I’ve ever worn. Obviously far more comfortable / versatile than the walking boot in later recovery.