Leg Brace Gives Soldiers More Mobility, Less Pain

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and creator of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, discusses how he makes the device in his lab at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. The brace reduces pain for soldiers who suffered leg injuries and increases mobility, including the ability to run. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Johnny Owens, a physical therapist specializing in treating wounded warriors using the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis, discusses the brace's benefits for wounded warriors at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Casts of legs of wounded warriors stand, reflecting part of the process to produce Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis braces at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and creator of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, discusses how he makes the device in his lab at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • The Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace goes through numerous steps before it is fitted to each wounded warrior at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Joseph Sadowski, a prosthetist, discusses the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace and its benefits to wounded warriors at the lab at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Examples of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace lie on a table at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck and Johnny Owens, developers of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, talk about the challenges of producing the brace for wounded warriors -- and the satisfaction they get out of helping wounded warriors -- at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured lower leg, discusses how the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace has reduced his leg pain and enabled him to run again at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Anderson's heel shattered when he stepped on a land mine in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in October 2010. He now plans to become a doctor so he can help others. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and creator of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, fits one of his braces on Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader, at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Anderson's heel shattered when he stepped on a land mine in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in October 2010. The brace reduces his pain and enables him to run again. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured leg, examines the fit of an Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Anderson returned to the center to have one brace adjusted and get fitted for another. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured lower leg, tries out the fit of an Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Anderson returned to the center to have one brace adjusted and get fitted for another. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and creator of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, adjusts a brace for Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader who stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan, at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured leg, pauses as he discusses how the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace has changed his life -- from reducing his leg pain to enabling him to run again -- at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and creator of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, returns with an adjusted brace for Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader who stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan, at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and developer of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, checks the fit after he adjusts one of his braces on Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader, at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured lower leg, tries out the fit of an adjusted Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace as Ryan Blanck, the brace's creator, watches him walk at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Anderson returned to the center to have one brace adjusted and get fitted for another. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured leg, tries out the fit of an adjusted Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace as sunlight streams through the windows at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Anderson returned to the center to have one brace adjusted and get fitted for another. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and creator of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, talks about his hopes to keep up with the demands for the braces at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson, an infantry platoon leader with an injured leg, discusses how the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace has changed his life -- from reducing his leg pain to enabling him to run again -- at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
  • Words written in chalk by wounded warriors on a tool drawer show appreciation for Ryan Blanck and Johnny Owens, developers of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace, at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek