Customer Reviews

AirCast AirHeel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have had 3 of these and they have all deflated within a couple of days. They were like a miracle cure for my Plantar Fasciitis at first. But, just walking around in them in shoes and sandals...nothing strenuous...they just lose air and go flat. I have no idea as to where the leaks occur. I have inspected them, but the problem area is not obvious. This is really a shame because the idea is 5 stars, but the execution is 0 stars. Totally unreliable. 3 for 3 deflations within 3 days. The manufacturer should have to recall these and fix the obvious problem!
UPDATE: I decided to try to find the air leak and did so by immersing in water and putting pressure on the foot pad. The leaks were in the same exact point on one of the ankle pads that has the air hose in it. About 1/2" from the airhose along the seam. So, the problem would appear to be inadequate sealing of the seam. Now, I am a large man and weigh around 210 lbs, so weight could be a factor, since the pressure on the seam would increase with weight.

I love this! I have plantar fasciitis which makes walking barefoot very painful. I can put this on and I am able to walk around the house comfortably. I can even fit larger shoes such as hiking boots over it.

The air cast worked provided great arch support when I was battling a case of plantar fasciitis, but the Amazon price is twice what I would have paid at Rite Aid. So in summary-good product, bad price.

I had achilles tendonosis (aka tendonitis). This occurs when the achilles heel is inflamed due to micro-tears in the tendon and may show "bumps" in the back of the achilles. My doctor explained that people with this condition are at increased risk of having their achilles heel snap, which then would take surgery and 9 - 12 months to heal.

First, I would *highly* recommend that anyone with this condition see a foot doctor and then get physical therapy, if they have medical insurance. I never have had physical therapy before, but after researching the condition saw a foot doctor. He prescribed PT and gave me these Aircasts.

Normally, I would wake up with some pain in the injury and also stiffness until I walked around. On the first day of wearing these Aircasts, my pain was reduced by 60% and stiffness by about 40%+. These Aircasts are worth it.

Since I've never had physical therapy before and never thought of PT for an achilles heel tendonosis, perhaps this may help anyone else with the condition. After 8 weeks, I'm fully healed.

Here's what they do in PT:

1. They put something called dexamethasone on my heels, and then applied ultrasound using a small device. The dexamethasone is like cortisone and helped with the inflamation.

2. I then went through a series of exercises where I stretched my achilles heels, such as calf raises.

3. After the exercises, they applied electrodes to my heels and used electric pulses to stimulate them (no, this doesn't hurt).

I had this condition for at least a year, but after 8 weeks of PT and using this aircast device, I am fully healed. I should not have waited so long.

This is an excellent product. Much better than a passive brace for protecting my achilles while it heals. I've had three aircasts. The first one I borrowed from a friend, it was size medium, and it lasted about six months with heavy use at first, then intermittent use as my heel healed. At some point it no longer inflated. I bought a second one when I reinjured my heel. It was size small (which I thought would fit my foot better), but it only lasted for several weeks with initial heavy daily use.

I think I am carrying too much weight to use the small size; my new medium aircast has been fine for about a week, and my achilles is much better. I'm about 180 lbs, and have size 9 feet. This product has made a big difference in reducing discomfort and improving healing for my achilles. Next step is to find a way to prevent re-injuring it.

this hurt my heel, the plastic was too hard. I took the plastic air thing out and it did better, but still was not enough support for my plantar fis. I would need a wider band on foot and ankle. If you get one wear it over a thick sock, might help the hard heel thing.

I'm on my third one. The first two deflated within a couple days just by walking around. Not reliable.

I was hurting really bad as i had torn my achillies tendon. I tell you this helped my foot alot. The only one thing is that i needed a wider shoe to wear to fit the brace into it. Otherwise very helpful.

My podiatrist sold this to me for $70.00 for my PF. I hate it and won't use it anymore. One of my foot arches has a swollen area that hurts and this pushed against it too hard. Mine haven't deflated at all, but hurt my arch and I can feel the ridge under my foot where the "airheel" ends, and that's uncomfortable also. Funny name - airheel, as the air is not on the heel at all. Oh, it also didn't fit in my shoes well, and I looked like I hade HUGE swollen ankles. If it helped my PF at all I would keep wearing it no matter what it looked like, but...it didn't