75-Year-Old Active Grandfather Recovers from Left Fibula Fracture
75-Year-Old Active Grandfather Recovers from Left Fibula Fracture
Meet Patrick
At 75 years old, Patrick Krueger isn’t slowing down anytime soon. A proud grandfather from South Bend, Ind., Patrick fills his days with golf, swimming, long walks with his wife, and a daily step goal of 10,000+, an active lifestyle that keeps him feeling young and energized.
But one unexpected fall nearly brought all of that to a halt.
A Painful Fall and a Fractured Fibula
While enjoying a regular day, Patrick suddenly collapsed due to dehydration. The fall resulted in severe pain and a trip to the ER. Emergency responders rushed him in, especially cautious given his history of open-heart surgery five years prior. After X-rays and thorough evaluation, doctors diagnosed Patrick with a hairline fracture of the left fibula.
His initial treatment? A traditional CAM walking boot — bulky, restrictive, and hard to manage for someone used to staying on the move. It offered stability but made everyday movement frustrating and uncomfortable.
Discovering the Best Ankle Stabilizer for Recovery
Not one to sit still, Patrick sought out a second opinion at South Bend Orthopedics, where he met Dr. Bemenderfer. That’s where he was introduced to a life-changing alternative: the TayCo Acute XAB Brace — a revolutionary ankle stabilizer designed to provide support without sacrificing mobility.
Unlike the boot, the Acute XAB Brace fit comfortably over Patrick’s shoe, protected both sides of his lower leg, and took less than a minute to put on. It offered the support his injury needed — without limiting his movement or daily activities.
Back on His Feet — and Back to Life
With the help of the Acute XAB Brace, Patrick quickly returned to doing what he loves:
Long walks with his wife
Cheering at football games
Daily chores without pain
Looking ahead to his next round of golf
“ayCo Brace gave me the freedom to keep moving,” Patrick said. “I’ll definitely be keeping it around!”
The Takeaway
For active adults recovering from injuries like fibula fractures, TayCo Brace offers one of the best ankle brace solutions available today. Lightweight, functional, and easy to use, it’s more than just an alternative to a walking boot — it’s a smarter path to recovery that keeps you moving.
This brace is easy to put on (after doing it a few times). I’ve worn it for five days and there is already a significant reduction in pain.
I walk my dog 5 miles a day, so I’ve walked 25 miles with the brace on so far. I wasn’t confident that the strap that goes under my shoe would hold up, but it has. It’s a bit scuffed up, but I don’t see any wear or damage to it. It would be nice if this part could be replaced if necessary, but so far so good.
This brace has helped me so much! I am a horticulturist and walk on a lot of uneven ground which triggers old injuries from sports to flare up. I also wear the brace when I’m out on trails hiking. The only thing I would change or add to this brace is a bit more padding along the inner ankle area. Where I find there is some friction.
That is amazing to hear Joanne! We're so glad you've been able to get back to what you love to do! We'll ship you some C-pads you can add to the ankle area for extra comfort. Thank you again for sharing your experience!
This brace is definitely a game changer. I can’t tell you how many braces I have bought. My daughter refused to wear them due to not feeling comfortable in her cleats. The brace has gotten her back out on the field playing 100% and feeling stabilized instead of hesitant.
Thank you so much, TayCo!
What an incredible win to hear! Thank you for sharing, Ginger. We know how tough it can be to find a brace that fits well in cleats and gives the confidence to play full speed. So glad the AthleticX Brace has helped your daughter get back on the field, feeling strong and supported.
The brace start off good then, over time. It wears out is meant not to be worn all the time. I had 3 of these braces and it keeps occurring the same problem on the left inside. We got great customer service and they click to fix it by shipping out another product. But the product itself is cheap.\n They sent me a athletic ex. Now that material is good, but the brace is not the same as the other one. If this material was, on the other brace, they would have a winner..
We really appreciate you sharing this honest feedback, Thomas. It’s great to hear our customer service team was able to support you quickly, but we’re sorry to hear the brace didn’t hold up over time. That’s not the experience we aim to deliver. We’re always working to improve, and insights like this make a big difference.