“Beckham Boot” Beats a Cast for Broken Ankles

According to a recent British study, a removable plastic brace—often referred to as a “Beckham boot” after soccer player David Beckham used one to treat an injury—is as effective for immobilizing and treating broken ankles as a traditional plaster cast. The added bonus of the removable brace is that it enables patients to perform ankle movement exercises several times a day, reducing the muscle loss and joint stiffness that follow prolonged immobilization.