the following is a description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments discussed below . in accordance with the present invention , fig1 - 2 depict topical ankle gear 100 for enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury . in a preferred embodiment , the topical ankle gear 100 includes flexible sleeve 200 , which is comprised of lower leg encircling portion 205 , ankle encircling portion 206 , and foot encircling portion 207 . both interior surface 203 and exterior surface 204 of flexible sleeve 200 are shown . flexible sleeve 200 is comprised of a thin , resilient , radially stretchable material designed to conform and contour to a user &# 39 ; s lower leg , ankle , and foot . preferably , flexible sleeve 200 is comprised of a loose - knit fiber breathably configured to release perspiration and allow air flow during use . the loose - knit fiber can be any one of a number of commercially available stretchable materials such as lycra , spandex , bioskin , or epx . more preferably , the material is a tri - laminate ( bonded ) material having a first polyurethane - polyurea copolymer on the inside and a second polyurethane - polyurea copolymer on the outside , with a thin polyurethane membrane between the first and second copolymers . in a preferred embodiment , the tri - laminate material is less than 2 mm thick and is sufficiently elastic to provide between 15 - 25 mm hg compression to the lower leg , ankle , and / or foot of the user . in a preferred embodiment , the lower leg encircling portion 205 and least a portion of the ankle encircling portion 206 ( preferably just above the heel ) of the flexible sleeve 200 has at least a 10 % to 15 % reduced diameter compared to the foot encircling portion 207 , more preferably at least a 20 % to 25 % reduced diameter , and most preferably at least a 30 % reduced diameter compared to the foot encircling portion 207 of the flexible sleeve 200 . this embodiment has been found to be most beneficial to certain athletes . as shown in fig1 - 2 , flexible sleeve 200 further comprises strap 220 extending therefrom and configured to extend substantially circumferentially around and couple to lower leg encircling portion 205 at distal end 221 . preferably , strap 220 further comprises one or more hook loop fasteners affixed to a portion of distal end 221 , wherein the hook loop fasteners are suitable for releasably coupling distal end 221 to lower leg encircling portion 205 when topical ankle gear 100 is worn by a user . fig1 - 2 depict strap 220 in an unaffixed ( open ) position , whereas fig4 - 8 show strap 220 with distal end 221 affixed to lower leg encircling portion 205 . advantageously , topical ankle gear 100 further comprises one or more achilles buttresses 300 . fig1 provides a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of achilles buttresses 300 , and fig2 - 5 , and 7 - 8 show various ( partial ) views of the same . fig6 provides a top - plan view of a preferred embodiment of achilles buttresses 300 . preferably , ankle gear 100 includes a first and second achilles buttress 300 coupled to the interior surface 203 of flexible sleeve 200 and extending vertically thereabove along the interior of lower leg encircling portion 205 as shown in fig1 . more preferably , achilles buttresses 300 are positioned such that when the topical ankle gear 100 is worn by a user , the first and second achilles buttresses are in contact with the achilles tendon of the user . most preferably , the achilles buttresses 300 are positioned such that the first achilles buttress extends vertically along one side of the achilles tendon and the second achilles buttress extends vertically along the opposing side of the achilles tendon . in their preferred embodiment , achilles buttresses 300 are substantially elliptical and are comprised of a compressible material . flexible sleeve 200 compresses first and second achilles buttresses 300 toward the user &# 39 ; s achilles tendon with a force sufficient to stimulate sensory and tactile receptors in the foot and ankle . preferably , the compressible material is comprised of one or more of the following : a foam or foam - like material , a gel or gel - like material , or any other compressible material suitable to conform to the achilles tendon and apply pressure to one or more constituents of the peroneal muscle group . most preferably , the achilles buttresses 300 stimulate the peroneus longus ( pl ), peroneous brevis ( pb ), and / or tibialis anterior ( ta ) muscle spindles . in a preferred embodiment , ankle gear 100 further includes lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 , which is comprised of flared upper portion 405 , medial portion 410 , and flared lower portion 415 . lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 preferably couples to the foot encircling portion 207 of flexible sleeve 200 and extends into the ankle portion 206 thereof . so positioned , flared upper portion 405 extends over and provides resistance to an anterior ( top ) portion of the foot of a user . preferably , flared upper portion 405 is further configured to fit under — and in close proximity to — a user &# 39 ; s malleolus . the medial portion 410 of lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 is configured to conform to and extend around a user &# 39 ; s foot , thereby providing resistance to a lateral portion of the foot , whereas the flared lower portion 415 is configured to extend under and provide resistance to a posterior portion of the foot ( the sole of the foot ). in this preferred placement , lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 will advantageously stimulate the sensory and tactile receptors of a user &# 39 ; s foot and ankle when worn . preferably , taco - shaped lateral buttress 400 , when properly positioned , places topical pressure on tactile receptors in the anterior talofibular ligament ( atfl ) and calcaneo fibular ligaments . more preferably , taco - shaped lateral buttress 400 will stimulate the stretch reflex , thereby reducing the latency period in the attached muscle spindles by at least one millisecond . after extended use ( 1 - 2 weeks ) taco - shaped lateral buttress 400 reduces the latency period by up to 50 milliseconds . sustained use ( 4 or more weeks ) of taco - shaped lateral buttress may reduce the latency period by at least 51 milliseconds . lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 is preferably comprised of a semi - rigid material . the type of material may be any thin , resilient material , such as polycarbonate plastic , or any other suitable semi - rigid material . typically , lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 will have one or more openings configured to enhance the conformability of the lateral buttress to the foot of the user . advantageously , lateral foot - ankle buttress has at least a first pair of openings 420 disposed between the flared upper portion 405 and the medial portion 410 , wherein the pair of openings 420 are divided by a segment 425 of the lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 . in one embodiment , the pair of openings 420 are asymmetrical and comprise at least 10 % of the total area of lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 . in other embodiments , the pair of openings comprise at least 40 % of the total area of lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 . more preferably , the lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 also has a second pair of openings 430 disposed between the medial portion 410 and the flared lower portion 415 , wherein the second pair of openings 430 are divided by a second segment 435 of the lateral foot ankle buttress 400 . in one embodiment , the second pair of openings 430 are asymmetrical and comprise at least 10 % of the total area of lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 . in an alternate embodiment , the second pair of openings 430 are symmetrical and comprise at least 10 % of the total area of lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 . in yet another embodiment , the pair of openings 430 comprise at least 40 % of the total area of lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 . although well designed for use with the topical ankle gear 100 of the present invention , lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 is also highly compatible with other ankle sleeves or topical ankle gear . fig9 - 10 depict lateral ankle buttress 400 uncoupled from flexible sleeve 200 . as shown in fig1 , lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 has a posterior side 441 and an anterior side 442 . anterior side 442 further comprises hook loop fasteners affixed thereto , enabling lateral foot - ankle buttress to releasably couple to flexible sleeve 200 or other ankle gear systems . fig3 depicts strap 500 designed for use with topical ankle gear 100 . strap 500 may be extendable ( stretchable ) or inelastic , and with each preferred embodiment comprising a first end 510 , a second end 520 , and a medial portion 515 . preferably , one or more of first end 510 , second end 520 , and medial portion 515 further include hook loop fasteners affixed thereto . more preferably , first end 510 and second end 520 have hook loop fasteners . most preferably , first end 510 , second end 520 , and medial portion 515 each have hook loop fasteners affixed thereto . first end 510 , medial portion 515 , and second end 520 of strap 500 can be releasably coupled to flexible sleeve 200 in any user - selected position . in a preferred embodiment ( see fig4 - 6 ), strap 500 is arrayed in a “ figure eight ” configuration and releasably coupled to flexible sleeve 200 . in an alternately preferred embodiment ( see fig7 - 8 ), strap 500 is arrayed in a “ heel - lock ” configuration and releasably coupled to flexible sleeve 200 . one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the preferred configuration and placement of strap 500 on and around flexible sleeve 200 will vary depending on the needs of the user . in another alternate embodiment , topical ankle gear 100 is included in a proprioceptive topical ankle gear kit ( see fig1 ). the kit includes , separately , flexible sleeve 200 ( including strap 220 ), one or more achilles buttresses 300 , lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 , and strap 500 . preferably , the kit includes printed instructions 600 relating to the use of the ankle gear , including instructions to couple the lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 to flexible sleeve 200 such that the lateral foot - ankle buttress 400 extends into the ankle - encircling portion 206 . more preferably , the printed instructions 600 further include specific directions to couple the first and second achilles buttresses 300 to the interior surface 203 of flexible sleeve 200 such that the first and second achilles buttresses 300 are in contact with an achilles tendon of the user , the first achilles buttress extending vertically along one side of the achilles tendon and the second achilles buttress extending vertically along the other side of the achilles tendon . moreover , upon reading the teachings of this specification , those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that , under certain circumstances , considering issues such as changes in technology , user requirements , etc ., a variety of fastening devices may be used to “ affix ”, “ couple ”, and / or “ releasably couple ” ( as those words are used herein ) one or more components of the present invention . these fastening devices may include one or more of the following : adhesives , bolts , buckles , clasps , latches , locks , screws , snaps , clamps , connectors , couplings , ties , or other fastening means yet to be developed . the invention is therefore not to be limited to the particular embodiments described and illustrated herein . although the foregoing describes the preferred embodiments of this invention , it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes modifications . such scope is limited only by the claims below as read in connection with the above specification . moreover , many additional advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above specification and claims herein . table 1 , below , provides a summary of 6 athletes &# 39 ; experiences wearing a preferred embodiment of the topical ankle gear of the present invention . before using ( or switching to ) the topical ankle gear of the present invention , each athlete used a previously available ankle brace ( such as the active ankle ) during volleyball season . there were five female subjects and one male subject . collectively , the athletes reported no injuries after switching to the topical ankle gear of the present invention . each athlete preferred the topical ankle gear to his or her previous brace .
the present invention is directed to topical ankle gear for enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury . the topical ankle gear and kits preferably comprise a flexible sleeve and a lateral foot - ankle buttress , achilles buttresses , and / or an extendable strap . the topical ankle gear of the present invention is designed to be worn during periods of physical activity to reduce injury and to train and strengthen the athletes muscles against injury , advantageously increasing proprioception by stimulating critical sensory and tactile receptors in the foot and ankle .