TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A new foam invented by Florida State researchers is giving student athletes some much needed support.
The advanced foam technology called Auxetic foam, was developed by engineers at Florida State University's High Performance Materials Institute, originally for prosthetics.
But the foam pads are now being used in the TayCo Ankle Brace, used by some FSU athletes, including football and softball players with amazing results.
"The foam on the inside is critical in the way it fits and forms to the lower leg and where it hits at certain pressure points at the ankle and lower leg," said Jake Pfile, FSU's Executive Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Football Trainer.
Dr. Changchun "Chad" Zeng is a FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Associate Professor who led the team that developed the foam.
He says the foam is revolutionary because if you stretch normal foam it shrinks in the middle, but this foam acts counter-intuitively and actually expands.
"From the outside you just look at and say okay, something is different about this foam and that's a true statement this is truly a different type of material," said Dr. Zeng.
Pfile has been using the Tayco Ankle Brace for about two years, mostly on their offensive and defensive lineman but the brace was also worn by Jessie Warren when the FSU girl's softball team won the 2018 National Championship.
Dr. Zeng and his team are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to try to improve the comfort of amputee patients prosthetics.
