If you have ever broken your leg you will know how annoying wearing a plaster cast is. Fortunately, the latest evidence suggests that ankles may heal faster and better if patients are fitted instead with removable splints or braces that they can take off daily.
As a bonus, patients can regularly wash their ankles and relieve the itches that so irritate plaster-cast wearers.
The benefits are thought to arise mainly from the exercise, which strengthens the broken joint and keeps it supple. Caution is advised, however, as accidents can happen, especially if patients fail to replace the splint immediately after washing and exercise. Read more here.
