Skip to main content

Inspiration for new inventions has many sources. Scott Rogoff, PT, DPT, ATC, with St Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California, was prompted by personal experiences with rehabilitation. "I was a soccer player and had ankle injuries, but no one ever taught me ankle rehab," he says. As a result, Rogoff—now a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy and a certified strength and conditioning specialist—kept getting reinjured.

Feature Inventions

"A lot of details and precision are missed when the ankle is being strengthened," Rogoff says. He wondered what could be done to make the process more efficient. Most PTs use elastic bands or isometric machines for lower limb exercises. Those can create an imbalance by strengthening calf muscles at expense of the ankle. As a PT focusing on sports medicine and orthopedics, Rogoff saw the struggles of patients with ankle injuries. They often developed compensatory mechanisms. Traditional exercises did not adequately isolate the ankle.

Rogoff knew that a device that worked the muscles on the front side of the ankle—one that was fairly small, and appropriate to use in the clinic or at home—would benefit patients with ankle injuries, since the joint is only as strong as the surrounding muscles. Unlike what had happened to him, patients benefiting from such a device would be less at risk for reinjury.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

News

The Clock Is Ticking for Congress to Extend Medicare Telehealth Waivers

Sep 9, 2025

Congress must act by Sept. 30 to extend current telehealth access for PTs, PTAs, and other therapy providers.

News

Congress Investigating TRICARE Issues Amid Provider and Patient Disruptions

Sep 5, 2025

Congress is beginning to formally investigate ongoing issues with the TRICARE system that have affected health care providers and military families who

Article

New Study Reimagines the Relationship Between Daily Steps and Health Outcomes

Sep 3, 2025

For decades, 10,000 steps a day has been regarded as a near-universal benchmark for fitness and general health goals — often promoted by wearable fitness