blustone health
Achilles and Ankle Bracing
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Contact Information
Blustone Health
15464 Madrona Drive, Surrey
Phone: 778-902-8258
Email: blustonehealth@gmail.com
In-Home Fitting Across Greater Vancouver
Recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture, ankle injury, fracture, or surgery often requires more than a standard walking boot. The position of the ankle, the amount of permitted movement, and the fit of the device can all affect comfort and protection throughout recovery.
Blustone Health provides professional in-home fitting and adjustment for specialized Achilles and ankle bracing, including the VACOped Achilles Boot and Thetis Achilles Rupture Night Splint.
We come directly to your home to help ensure your brace is properly sized, positioned, and adjusted according to the treatment instructions provided by your physician, surgeon, or physiotherapist.
Book an Achilles or Ankle Bracing Consultation
The VACOped Achilles Boot
Controlled Positioning Through Each Stage of Recovery
The VACOped is a specialized walking boot designed to provide controlled protection for Achilles tendon injuries and a range of serious ankle, foot, and lower-leg conditions.
Unlike a basic fixed walking boot, the VACOped includes an adjustable ankle joint. This allows the ankle to be held in a prescribed position or gradually moved through a controlled range of motion as healing progresses.
For an Achilles tendon rupture, the foot is commonly positioned with the toes pointed downward during the early stages of recovery. This position helps bring the torn ends of the tendon closer together. As healing progresses, the boot settings may be gradually adjusted toward a more neutral ankle position under the direction of the treating clinician.
Key VACOped Features
- Adjustable ankle positioning
- Fixed or controlled range-of-motion settings
- Specialized design for Achilles rupture rehabilitation
- Vacuum-moulded liner that conforms around the foot and lower leg
- Adjustable fit to accommodate changes in swelling
- Interchangeable soles for different stages of recovery
- Removable and washable liner
- Designed for both surgical and non-surgical treatment protocols
The VACOped gives the rehabilitation team more precise control over ankle position than many conventional walking boots.
The VACOped Vacuum Liner
The VACOped contains a vacuum liner that moulds around the foot and lower leg when air is removed using the supplied pump. This helps:
- Create a closer, more individualized fit
- Reduce unwanted movement inside the boot
- Accommodate changes in swelling
- Improve contact between the leg and the brace
- Distribute pressure more evenly
- Support comfort during longer periods of wear
The liner can be readjusted as swelling changes throughout recovery.
The VACOped may be considered for people recovering from:
- Complete or partial Achilles tendon rupture
- Achilles tendon surgery
- Conservatively managed Achilles rupture
- Severe ankle sprains
- Complex ankle ligament injuries
- Ankle or lower-leg fractures
- Heel-bone fractures
- Selected metatarsal fractures
- Ankle joint replacement
- Ankle fusion procedures
- Other foot or lower-leg injuries requiring controlled immobilization
Why Professional Fitting Matters
Specialized Achilles boots only work as intended when the size, liner, straps, ankle settings, and soles are configured correctly. A poor fit may allow the foot to shift inside the boot, create unnecessary pressure, or make the device difficult to tolerate.
During an in-home fitting, we can:
- Confirm the appropriate brace size
- Adjust the boot length and liner
- Mould the vacuum liner around the foot and lower leg
- Position and tighten the straps
- Confirm the prescribed ankle settings
- Install the appropriate sole
- Check for excessive pressure or rubbing
- Show you how to put the brace on and remove it safely
- Explain how to care for and clean the liner
- Help you understand which adjustments should only be made by a clinician
We do not independently determine or alter your medical rehabilitation protocol. Any ankle-angle, range-of-motion, weight-bearing, or wear-schedule instructions must come from your treating healthcare provider.
The Thetis Achilles Rupture Night Splint
Lightweight Protection While Sleeping and Resting
Sleeping in a full orthopaedic walking boot can be heavy, hot, and uncomfortable. The Thetis Achilles Rupture Night Splint is a lightweight resting splint developed specifically for Achilles tendon rupture recovery. It holds the foot in a protected, toe-down position while the patient is sleeping or resting. This helps prevent the ankle from unintentionally moving upward and stretching the healing Achilles tendon. The Thetis may be used as a nighttime alternative to the patient’s daytime walking boot when approved by their treating medical professional.
Key Thetis Features
- Designed specifically for Achilles tendon rupture recovery
- Maintains a protected plantarflexed or toe-down position
- Lightweight and lower profile than a full walking boot
- Breathable design for improved nighttime comfort
- Available for the left or right foot
- Compatible with standard daytime boot-based treatment
- Designed for sleeping and resting rather than normal walking
The Thetis is commonly considered during the protected recovery period after an Achilles rupture. The exact timing must be approved by the patient’s surgeon, physician, or physiotherapist.
VACOped During the Day, Thetis at Night
For some patients, the two products can form a complementary recovery system.
During the Day
The VACOped provides structured protection during standing, walking, and prescribed rehabilitation activity. Its adjustable joint allows the treating clinician to control ankle position and permitted movement as recovery progresses.
During the Night
The Thetis provides a lighter option for sleeping and resting while maintaining the prescribed protective foot position.
The Thetis does not replace the VACOped for normal standing or walking. Patients must follow the specific instructions provided by their medical and rehabilitation team.
How Long Does It Take to Get the Brace?
- Off-the-shelf braces & supports: often same week if the right size is in stock.
- Custom braces: we usually quote 1–3 weeks from your fitting to receiving it (we’ll confirm the timeline when we place the order).
- Once it arrives, we’ll make sure it’s properly fitted and adjusted for comfort and function.
Our In-Home Bracing Process
1) Intake & Referral Information
We begin by reviewing your injury, treatment stage, product request, and any instructions provided by your physician, surgeon, fracture clinic, or physiotherapist.
3) In-Home Fitting
We bring the brace to your home and configure it for your leg. For the VACOped, this can include adjusting the shell, moulding the vacuum liner, positioning the straps, and applying the prescribed ankle settings.
5) Use and Care Guidance
We show you how to use the brace, check the liner, manage the straps, clean the removable components, and recognize when the fit needs to be reassessed.
2) Measurement and Product Selection
We take the necessary foot, ankle, and lower-leg measurements to determine the appropriate VACOped or Thetis size.
4) Fit and Comfort Check
We check the position of the heel, ankle, calf, straps, and pressure points. Where medically permitted, we can also observe how the boot feels during standing or walking.
Follow-Up Support
Swelling and comfort can change during recovery. Contact us if the boot begins to feel loose, creates pressure, shifts during use, or requires a fit adjustment.