Reducing SOF Airborne Injuries with TayCo XAB

TayCo is pioneering the next generation ankle brace to expedite functional recovery following ankle and hindfoot injuries. The TayCo XAB can be applied immediately after injury allowing tactical athletes and service members to safely continue game play, training, and combat. The brace was originally developed for use with the Notre Dame football team to be rugged enough to withstand the punishment of NCAA or professional sports, yet lightweight and nimble enough to reduce the risks of additional injuries, limb imbalances, and soft tissue breakdown associated with walking boots, casts and other ankle foot orthoses (AFOs). TayCo XAB is currently providing immediate, on-field functional recovery and returning users to functional 4x faster than traditional ankle bracing options across 67 NCAA teams and 17 NFL & NBA teams and is utilized by world-renowned orthopedic surgeons with over 12,000 consumers wearing the TayCo XAB across the United States.   Throughout  this proposed Phase II effort, TayCo will advance its COTS XAB by creating, adapting, testing and evaluating an Airborne-capable modified-XAB to reduce the exceedingly high rate of ankle and foot injuries (63% of all injuries) occurring during parachuting activities and reduce medical attrition through the SOF training pipeline.