The Scotty Sock

A Device to Treat Achilles Tendinopathy

Home Background Project Goals Proposed Solution Prototype #1 References

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FAQ

What about patients whose Achilles are still sore? Would the band around the back inflame/ bother it?
The plan is to use a material behind the Achilles which has a lot of stretch for a low amount of force. The intention of this is to distribute the force in a way that does not additionally damage or cause discomfort to the achilles.

Is the design one size fits all?
During this prototyping phase we are designing the brace for a single foot size that is common among our group member. The future plans involve generalizing the Scotty Sock to be applicable to a few standard sizes, much like regular socks are sized.

Are you considering attaching the components so it is faster to put on? What is your plan for making it easier to put on?
The future plans for the Scotty Sock is to make it into a single component. This is necessary to help to keep components in the correct locations on the foot. This group is also aware that Prototype 1 took longer than desirable to put on and are planning to address it. This will likely be addressed as we begin to find more permanent materials to use, which may provide more “give” than those used in prototype 1.

How much more or less effective would the Scotty Sock be for athletes who have completely damaged their Achilles as opposed to slightly injured?
The Scotty Sock is intended to rehabilitate and alleviate symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy. If the Achilles tendon is completely damaged, then surgery is probably the best option before rehabilitation can even occur. The Scotty Sock assumes that a person is able to walk during the course of the day with or without the brace.

How can you test the effectiveness of your device? How will you test your device?
In order to test the effectiveness of the device we plan to measure the angle of plantar flexion for a person when they have the brace on and the brace off. This will be done with the aid of a goniometer. We hope to see an increase of the flexion when the brace is worn.

How much will the product cost? How does this device compare in cost to current stiff devices?
Until we have determined the materials we plan to use, this is unknown. However, we are expecting that the costs to produce the sock will be very low due to the minimal and simple materials involved in the making.

Is there a way to maximize how much cheaper this device is?
We could lower manufacturing costs by using low-cost materials in the final design.

Any other possibilities on materials that are flexible?
Yes we are currently investigating more flexible materials than we have, including neoprene for the sock and rubber for the bands.