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Move From Pain to Performance

The Orthopaedic Sleeve

Aussie Engineered | Aussie Tested

Treating

  • Calf Tears
  • Achilles Pain
  • Kids and Adult Heel Pain
  • Shin Splints
  • Ankle Impingement

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University of Queensland

UQ Report Summary

University of Queensland Biomechanics Lab - VALD Force Decks - Paromed Pressure Mapping

University - Backed. Immediate Impact.

We asked Associate Professor Taylor Dick and Dr James Williamson of UQ Biomechanics School to take The Orthopaedic Sleeve through some rigorous testing protocol to find out what effect it had on people when they walk and balance. Here's a snapshot of what they found.

  • Calf Muscle EMG: ↓ 48%
  • Achilles Tension: ↓ 8.1%
  • Heel Contact Time: ↓ 5%
  • Ankle Compression: ↓10%
  • JUST IN: Force Absorbed - Pressure Off

Contact Us for Full Report • TGA Registered • Private Health Rebates May Apply

Landing Force Asymmetry

Force Accepted When Landing

91% ↑ Stopping Ability

Pre-Tension

22%

Post Dial Tension

2%

Helps Breaking Power When Landing

Contraction Force Asymmetry

Force Developed in Jumping

55% ↑ Power Distribution

Pre-Tension

62%

Post Dial Tension

28%

Pre-Tensions for Power Production

User Perception Survey Highlights

  • Overall positive experience — Most participants found the device comfortable and easy to use
  • Felt safe and in control while wearing The Orthopaedic Sleeve
  • Supports movement and mobility — majority agreed or were neutral that it helps
  • Easy to put on and take off — high usability scores

Source: University of Queensland Study, 2025

UQ VALD Research

Plantar Pressure Mapping Case

Clinical Proof Of Pressure Redistribution

Plantar Pressure Mapping

The Orthopaedic Sleeve now is shown to redistribute foot pressure away from painful and heavy landing areas, providing immediate impact from calf to heel and underfoot, while maintaining optimal biomechanics.

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How to Use Our Brace

The Orthopaedic Sleeve will help treat 6 conditions. Select below for best practice use

Calf Tear

Calf Tear

Clinical findings

  • 20-48% Decrease Calf Muscle EMG
  • Reduced Workload Through Healing Phases
  • Supported Exercise Progression

Recommended usage

Calf Tears require immediate brace application with high tension applied. This allows maximal EMG reduction while tissue heals (reducing muscle work). Pending grade of tear, the tension is relieved after 3-10 days and gradually further reduced as the user heals.

Did You Know?

Calf Tears account for 12–29% of muscle injuries in elite footballers. Their access to elite care averages a 19-31 day return to play

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles Tendinopathy

Clinical findings

  • 8% Decrease Achilles Tension
  • Reduce Walking The Stiffness
  • Supported Achilles Lift

Recommended usage

If acute flare ups occur, high tension can be applied to manage task specific loads, or morning walks/long sedentary periods. Moderate daily tension otherwise should be standard through day time use. The brace should be used until painful task goals have been accomplished pain free for 7-10 days with no flare up.

Did you Know?

Reducing tendon compression/tension significantly improves pain & functional alignment for tissue healing

Severs Disease

Severs Disease

Clinical findings

  • 5% Decrease Heel Contact Time
  • Reducing Ground Hardness Impact
  • Softening Each Step

Recommended usage

Sever's Disease happens in kids aged 8-14 in the growth plate of the heel. The Orthopaedic Sleeve should have constant day time use for these cases. Combine with Hydrogel sleeve for night time swelling and pain management.

Did You Know?

Customised bracewear gave 68.6% greater pain reduction & 20.8× higher sport return rate vs heel lifts in Sever’s disease (2021 RCT)

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis

Clinical findings

  • 5% Decrease Heel Contact Time
  • Decreases Need for Toe Walking
  • Reduces Pressure Through The Whole Foot

Recommended usage

Main usage time can be refined to tasks specific pain or flaring activities. This might be times of day when pain is worse. The Orthopaedic Sleeve will mimic heel lift and reduce tissue work.

Did You Know?

Brace and Splint Therapy + conservative exercise based care leads to improvement in ~68% of plantar fasciitis cases within 12 weeks

Shin Splints

Shin Splints

Clinical findings

  • 48% Decrease in Soleus EMG
  • Heavily Reduce Muscle Related Bone Stress
  • Supports Return to Walking

Recommended usage

The massive offloading of the Soleus EMG and reduced contact time offloads the shin, allowing relative rest opportunity for catch up healing to occur in the bone tissue

Did You Know?

Lower leg bracing reduced shin splints pain, and enabled activity return in avg. 5 weeks from pain onset & lowered recurrence (2023 RCT)

Ankle Impingement

Ankle Impingement

Clinical findings

  • 10% Decrease Ankle Compression
  • Offload Loose or Hyper-mobile Ankles
  • Change Direction Without Fear

Recommended usage

This may be the one pathology that requires consistent use through provoking activity only. As the impingement largely comes from bone remodelling in response to specific load at the front of the ankle.

Did You Know?

Arthroscopic treatment of anterior ankle impingement achieves good/excellent results in 80–90% of cases
The Severs Sleeve & Pathology Principles | Orthopaedic Sleeve Society
CLINICALLY PROVEN • PRACTITIONER APPROVED

The Severs Sleeve.
Pathology Principles.

Evidence-based clinical rehabilitation principles for Australian healthcare practitioners.

Explore the Principles
Used and trusted by Australian practitioners
THE EVIDENCE-BASED EDGE

Why The Severs Sleeve
Changes Rehab Outcomes

The Severs Sleeve represents a paradigm shift in conservative management of lower extremity pathologies. By combining adjustable pulley tension with biomechanical intelligence, it allows practitioners to precisely modulate load, EMG activity, and joint position throughout the entire healing continuum.

3
Healing Phases
Precisely Supported
6
Key Pathologies
Covered in Depth
100%
Evidence-Aligned
Rehab Protocols
The Evidence Based Edge in Bracing

Supporting All Evidence Based Integration Models

CHOOSE YOUR PATHOLOGY

Select a Condition to View Full Clinical Integration

Click any pathology below. Only that section’s complete evidence-based protocol will appear — clean, focused, and ready for clinical use.

Calf Tear
Muscle & MTJ
Achilles Tendinopathy
Midportion + Insertional
Sever’s Disease
Paediatric Apophysitis
Plantar Fasciitis
Fascial Origin Pain
Shin Splints
MTSS / Bone Stress
Anterior Ankle Impingement
Dorsiflexion Block

Only one pathology shows at a time for maximum clinical focus. Click another to instantly switch.

CONDITION 01 • MUSCLE & MTJ

Calf Tear

Optimising Calf Tear Recovery for Healthcare Practitioners: Advanced Insights with The Severs Sleeve.

Healthcare practitioners with a foundational understanding of pathophysiology recognise that calf tears, ranging from mild strains to complete ruptures, demand precise management to restore function and prevent re-injury. This article provides an in-depth exploration of calf tear recovery, emphasising the innovative Severs Sleeve — a dynamic brace designed to modulate electromyographic (EMG) signal control, reduce Achilles tendon tension, and redistribute workload. By aligning with the muscle healing cascade, the Severs Sleeve promotes a healing environment that may accelerate recovery, normalise gait, and enhance patient outcomes. Below, we delve into the pathophysiology of muscle healing, the mechanistic advantages of the brace, and its integration into evidence-based rehabilitation protocols.

Advanced Pathophysiology of Calf Muscle Healing

1 Inflammatory Phase (Days 1–7)
Mechanisms: Fibre disruption triggers hemorrhage, releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Satellite cells activate, migrating to the injury site to initiate myogenesis. Neutrophils and M1 macrophages clear necrotic debris, while pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) amplify the response.
Challenges: Excessive inflammation can delay healing or promote fibrosis, particularly in musculotendinous injuries with poor vascularity.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Minimising muscle contraction reduces secondary fibre damage and cytokine-driven edema, creating a stable environment for repair.
2 Proliferative Phase (Days 5–21)
Mechanisms: Fibroblasts deposit Type III collagen, forming a provisional scar matrix. Myoblasts fuse to form myotubes, restoring muscle architecture. M2 macrophages transition to an anti-inflammatory role, promoting tissue remodelling. Mechanotransduction guides collagen alignment.
Challenges: Overloading disrupts collagen organisation, creating dense scar tissue with poor elasticity, which increases the re-injury risk.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Controlled loading stimulates mechanotransduction, optimising collagen fibre orientation while preventing excessive strain.
3 Remodelling Phase (Weeks 3–12+)
Mechanisms: Type III collagen is replaced by stronger Type I collagen, aligned along tensile lines. Muscle fibres mature, regaining contractile capacity. Satellite cell activity declines, but eccentric loading enhances fibre hypertrophy and tensile strength.
Challenges: Premature or excessive loading can cause micro-tears at the scar interface, while underloading delays remodelling and weakens the repair.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Progressive loading supports functional adaptation, enhancing muscle fibre recruitment and proprioception. Adoption of the brace may allow for a smoother and thus quicker transition through progressive overload, facilitating functional adaptation, improving muscle fibre hypertrophy, tensile strength, and overall tissue resilience.

Implications for Bracing

The Severs Sleeve’s adjustable pulley tension system aligns with these phases, increasing initial tension to protect the repair site by offloading stress and gradually decreasing tension to promote remodelling. By modulating tendon tension and EMG activity, it mitigates fibrosis, optimises collagen alignment, and promotes a healing environment that may accelerate functional recovery, particularly in complex injuries involving the musculotendinous junction or fascia.

Gait Normalisation & Patient Outcomes

The graded pulley tension system is critical for gait restoration. In Grade 1–2 tears, moderate-to-high pulley tension stabilises the ankle, reducing compensatory patterns. Patient comfort is prioritised through lightweight, breathable materials and customisable fit, preventing pressure points or skin irritation.

CONDITION 02 • TENDON

Achilles Tendinopathy / Enthesopathy

Optimizing Achilles Tendinopathy/Enthesopathy Recovery for Healthcare Practitioners: Advanced Insights with the Severs Sleeve.

Healthcare practitioners with a foundational understanding of pathophysiology recognize that Achilles tendinopathy and enthesopathy are overuse injuries that impair mobility, performance, and quality of life. Driven by repetitive tensile and compressive stress, these conditions disrupt tendon repair, necessitating targeted interventions to restore function and prevent degeneration or rupture. The Severs Sleeve is designed to modulate EMG signal control, reduce Achilles tendon tension, redistribute workload, and decrease ankle joint dorsiflexion to minimize retrocalcaneal compression.

Advanced Pathophysiology of Achilles Tendinopathy/Enthesopathy

1 Reactive Phase (2–4 Weeks)
Mechanisms: Acute overload activates tenocytes, releasing inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins). Matrix metalloproteinases degrade collagen causing peritendinous edema and glycosaminoglycan accumulation, leading to tendon inflammation without adaptive repair.
Challenges: Persistent loading amplifies inflammation, delaying repair and risking progression to dysrepair.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Offloading reduces tensile and compressive stress, stabilizing inflammation and supporting tenocyte recovery.
2 Dysrepair Phase (6–12 Weeks)
Mechanisms: Ongoing stress disrupts collagen remodeling, depositing disorganized Type III collagen and promoting neovascularization. Tenocyte apoptosis and neurovascular ingrowth (substance P-mediated) drive pain. The tendon stiffens.
Challenges: Post-exercise pain and poor collagen alignment increase microtear risk.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Controlled loading stimulates mechanotransduction, promoting organized collagen synthesis while minimizing neurovascular irritation.
3 Degenerative Phase (3–6+ Months)
Mechanisms: Chronic overload causes mucoid degeneration, hypocellularity, collagen fibril disarray, and calcific deposits. Partial tears or intratendinous necrosis elevate rupture risk. Constant pain reflects neurogenic inflammation.
Challenges: Degenerative tissue has minimal regenerative capacity, requiring prolonged rehabilitation.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Gradual loading with controlled aggravation enhances collagen turnover and tendon adaptation, reducing rupture risk during activity.

Implications for Bracing

The Severs Sleeve’s adjustable pulley tension system aligns with healing stages, increasing initial brace tension to protect the repair sites by offloading stress on the tissue and gradually decreasing tension to promote remodelling. By modulating tendon tension and EMG activity, it mitigates fibrosis, optimises collagen alignment, and promotes a healing environment that may accelerate functional recovery.

Gait Normalisation & Patient Outcomes

The graded pulley tension system is critical for gait restoration. High-to-moderate pulley tension stabilizes the ankle, reducing compensatory patterns. Decreased dorsiflexion minimizes retrocalcaneal compression. Patient comfort is prioritised through lightweight, breathable materials and customisable fit.

CONDITION 03 • PAEDIATRIC • CORE FOCUS

Sever’s Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis)

Optimising Sever’s Disease Recovery for Healthcare Practitioners: Advanced Insights with the Severs Sleeve.

Healthcare practitioners with a foundational understanding of pathophysiology recognise that Sever’s disease, or calcaneal traction apophysitis, is a common cause of heel pain in active children, particularly those aged 8–14. Driven by repetitive tensile and compressive stress on the calcaneal growth plate, this condition disrupts normal bone remodelling, leading to inflammation and functional limitations. The Severs Sleeve promotes a healing environment that may accelerate recovery, normalise gait, reduce associated bursitis and Kager’s fat pad irritation, and support patient-centred outcomes.

Advanced Pathophysiology of Sever’s Disease

1 Reactive Phase (Early, 2–6 Weeks)
Mechanisms: Acute overload causes excessive traction from the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia on the apophysis. This triggers chondrocyte activation and release of inflammatory mediators. Microtrauma at the apophyseal cartilage disrupts endochondral ossification, leading to edema and localised pain.
Challenges: Persistent loading exacerbates the inflammation, delaying cartilage repair and increasing the risk of microfractures.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Offloading reduces traction and compression, stabilising inflammation and supporting chondrocyte recovery.
2 Dysrepair Phase (Middle, 6–12 Weeks)
Mechanisms: Ongoing stress impairs apophyseal remodelling, leading to disorganised cartilage matrix and fibrotic changes. Neurovascular ingrowth contributes to persistent pain. The growth plate weakens.
Challenges: Pain persists post-activity, and poor remodelling increases long-term complications.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Controlled loading promotes mechanotransduction, supporting organised cartilage repair while minimising neurovascular irritation.
3 Chronic & Degenerative Phase (End Stage, 3–6+ Months)
Mechanisms: Chronic overload causes apophyseal sclerosis, calcific deposits, or microfractures, with potential for growth plate irregularity. Pain becomes constant, driven by neurogenic inflammation.
Challenges: Prolonged inflammation disrupts normal bone ossification, potentially affecting heel growth and function.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Gradual loading enhances cartilage and bone adaptation, reducing microfracture risk and supporting functional recovery.

Diagnosis & Assessment

  • Clinical: Tenderness at calcaneal apophysis, antalgic gait, toe-walking, tight Achilles, rapid growth spurt history
  • Functional tests: Pain on heel squeeze test, single-leg hop
  • Imaging: X-rays for apophyseal irregularities (sclerosis, fragmentation); ultrasound for bursitis

Evidence-Based Rehab Integration

Early introduction of protected loading. Typically, the brace is introduced for 1–2 hours on day one, increasing by an hour daily until full-time use is tolerated. Pair with heel lifts (5–10 mm) if advised by your health practitioner. Focus on pain-guided isometrics progressing to eccentrics and sport-specific drills.

CONDITION 04 • FASCIA

Plantar Fasciitis

Optimizing Plantar Fasciitis Recovery for Healthcare Practitioners: Advanced Insights with the Severs Sleeve.

The Severs Sleeve offers targeted offloading for plantar fascia pathology by reducing tensile pull from the Achilles and controlling excessive pronation and dorsiflexion moments that aggravate the plantar fascia origin. The adjustable tension system allows practitioners to titrate support during the reactive, dysrepair, and degenerative phases of fascial healing while protecting the windlass mechanism.

Advanced Pathophysiology of Plantar Fasciitis

1 Reactive Phase
Mechanisms: Acute overload at the medial calcaneal tubercle triggers inflammatory response and micro-tearing of the fascia, activating nociceptors and initiating the healing cascade.
Challenges: Continued loading prevents resolution of inflammation and leads to persistent morning pain and post-activity soreness.
The Severs Sleeve Role: High tension reduces windlass stress and nocturnal pain while protecting the fascial origin.
2 Dysrepair Phase
Mechanisms: Persistent loading leads to disorganised collagen deposition and thickened fascia with neurogenic pain components and central sensitisation.
Challenges: Poor collagen organisation and ongoing microtrauma make full resolution difficult without load management.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Moderate tension allows controlled loading while protecting the origin and reducing compensatory patterns.
3 Degenerative Phase
Mechanisms: Chronic changes include fascial thickening, possible calcific deposits, and central sensitisation with reduced tissue resilience.
Challenges: Long-standing cases require careful progressive loading to avoid flare-ups while rebuilding capacity.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Progressive de-tensioning supports functional adaptation and safe return to loading.

Implications for Bracing

The adjustable pulley tension system allows precise titration of support across all healing phases while protecting the windlass mechanism and reducing excessive dorsiflexion moments that aggravate the plantar fascia origin.

Gait Normalisation & Patient Outcomes

By controlling excessive pronation and dorsiflexion, the sleeve reduces repetitive microtrauma at the medial calcaneal tubercle. Lightweight, breathable materials and customisable fit improve adherence and comfort during daily activity and sport.

CONDITION 05 • BONE STRESS

Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)

Optimizing Shin Splints Recovery for Healthcare Practitioners: Advanced Insights with the Severs Sleeve.

The Severs Sleeve provides dynamic control of tibial loading by modulating calf muscle activity and redistributing forces away from the posteromedial tibia. Its graduated tension system supports the transition from reactive periostitis through to bone stress injury management, allowing earlier return to loading while protecting vulnerable bone remodelling sites.

Advanced Pathophysiology of Shin Splints (MTSS)

1 Reactive Phase (Periostitis)
Mechanisms: Inflammatory response at the tibial periosteum from repetitive traction of soleus and flexor digitorum longus during running and jumping activities.
Challenges: Continued impact prevents resolution and can progress to cortical bone stress if load is not managed.
The Severs Sleeve Role: High tension reduces soleus pull and tibial bending moments, allowing early protected loading.
2 Dysrepair Phase (Cortical Remodelling)
Mechanisms: Micro-damage accumulation exceeds repair capacity. Pain with activity and at rest as the bone attempts to remodel under continued stress.
Challenges: Risk of progression to stress fracture if loading continues without adequate protection and recovery.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Moderate tension allows controlled tibial loading with protection while symptoms settle.
3 Return to Loading Phase
Mechanisms: Bone remodelling completes with adequate rest and progressive loading. Tissue resilience returns.
Challenges: Premature return to high impact can cause recurrence.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Progressive de-tensioning supports safe return to impact while monitoring symptoms.

Implications for Bracing

The graduated tension system provides dynamic control of tibial loading by modulating calf muscle activity and redistributing forces away from the posteromedial tibia throughout the healing continuum.

Gait Normalisation & Patient Outcomes

By reducing excessive calf pull and tibial stress, the sleeve allows earlier return to walking and running with less pain. Comfortable, breathable design improves compliance during rehabilitation.

CONDITION 06 • JOINT

Anterior Ankle Impingement / Compression

Optimizing Anterior Ankle Impingement Recovery for Healthcare Practitioners: Advanced Insights with the Severs Sleeve.

By limiting excessive dorsiflexion through its pulley tension mechanism, the Severs Sleeve directly addresses the mechanical block and soft tissue impingement at the anterior ankle. This is particularly valuable for athletes in sports requiring deep dorsiflexion (football, soccer, basketball, netball). The brace allows controlled exposure to end-range loading while protecting anterior structures during the critical healing window.

Advanced Pathophysiology & Bracing for Anterior Ankle Impingement

1 Reactive Phase
Mechanisms: Repetitive end-range dorsiflexion causes anterior capsule and soft tissue irritation, leading to inflammation and mechanical block.
Challenges: Pain at end-range limits function in sports requiring deep dorsiflexion (football, basketball, netball).
The Severs Sleeve Role: High tension blocks painful end-range dorsiflexion and reduces anterior capsule irritation.
2 Dysrepair Phase
Mechanisms: Ongoing irritation leads to chronic inflammation, possible scar tissue formation, and persistent mechanical symptoms.
Challenges: Athletes struggle with landing, cutting, and deep squat positions.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Moderate tension permits progressive dorsiflexion loading while protecting healing anterior tissues.
3 Return to Sport Phase
Mechanisms: Tissue adaptation occurs with controlled exposure to end-range loading and proprioceptive training.
Challenges: High-risk activities (landing, cutting) can re-aggravate if support is removed too early.
The Severs Sleeve Role: Low tension during high-risk activities maintains workload redistribution and proprioceptive feedback.

Implications for Bracing

By limiting excessive dorsiflexion through the pulley tension mechanism, the Severs Sleeve directly addresses the mechanical block and soft tissue impingement at the anterior ankle, especially valuable for athletes in sports requiring deep dorsiflexion.

Gait Normalisation & Patient Outcomes

The brace allows controlled exposure to end-range loading while protecting anterior structures. Lightweight design and adjustable tension improve comfort and adherence during rehabilitation and return to sport.

THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Give Your Patients the Edge.
Give Yourself the Clinical Edge.

The Severs Sleeve isn’t just another brace. It’s a precision tool that lets you deliver phase-specific, load-modulated care with measurable outcomes. Faster recovery. Better adherence. Fewer setbacks. Trusted by Australian practitioners who demand results.

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Used by sports medicine physicians, physiotherapists, podiatrists and athletic trainers across elite and community levels in Australia.

© Orthopaedic Sleeve Society • Evidence-Based Bracing for Australian Practitioners

Meet The Team

Real Clinicians. A Real Solution. Delivering Performance out of Pain.

We’re Cody Loopstra and Andrew Pratt — a physiotherapist and podiatrist with over 30 years of combined clinical experience treating patients across Brisbane.

Every day in our multi-disciplinary clinic we saw the same story: people struggling with unrelenting Calf, Achilles Shin and Heel Pain. Where taping delivered brilliant short-term relief… it also irritated skin, required constant reapplication, and never lasted. Where a heel lift started out working - its effects quickly subsided.

In 2020, during the quiet of the pandemic, we decided to solve the problem properly.

"What can our patients use between our treatment session to manage painful movement, and come back better?"

United by our shared love of biomechanics, we combined Cody’s background in exercise physiology and advanced taping techniques with Andrew’s expertise in structural podiatry and gait analysis. Together, we spent five years developing a completely new approach.

The result is our patented Orthopaedic Sleeve — a biomimetic (copy's your movement) exoskeleton with an adjustable tension dial that offloads the Achilles, calves and plantar fascia while allowing natural, pain-free movement. University-tested and TGA-registered, it doesn’t just manage symptoms — it creates the optimal healing environment and helps people move from pain back to performance.

This isn’t a product designed in a boardroom. It was born from literally thousands of real patient stories, late-night refinements, and a genuine passion for turning our everyday clinical frustrations into something that actually works.

Welcome to The Orthopaedic Sleeve Society.

Now...Let's get you better!
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