Pneumatic ankle brace with bladder and pump arrangement

A pneumatic ankle brace, comprising:

• first and second substantially rigid side supports configured for fitting about the lower leg of a user and for supporting both sides of the user's ankle;
• securing means for securing said side supports relative to the user to firmly encase the ankle;
• and
• a bladder-pump assembly including a first bladder, a second bladder, a resilient foot pump, first channel means for providing fluid communication back-and-forth between said first bladder and said foot pump, and second channel means for providing fluid communication back-and-forth between said second bladder and said foot pump, said first bladder being positioned to provide a cushion between one side of the ankle and said first side support, said second bladder being positioned to provide a cushion between the other side of the ankle and said second side support, said bladders at least in part supporting the user's foot and ankle against inversion and eversion, said bladder-pump assembly having a preinflated constant fluid volume during operation of said ankle brace, said foot pump being positioned under the foot and thereby subject to foot pressure during the user's foot impact activity;
• wherein said foot pump when subjected to repeated foot pressure and release thereof causes a pulsing action of fluid in said bladder-pump assembly back-and-forth between said first bladder and said pump through said first channel means and back-and-forth between said second bladder and said pump through said second channel means, the fluid pulsing action providing a massaging compression effect to the foot and the ankle to reduce swelling thereof.