Ankle Huggers®

Ankle Huggers are a wheelchair and seating system accessory designed to gently support and stabilise the lower legs and ankles, helping to maintain correct limb positioning for users with reduced muscle control, spasticity or a tendency for their feet to slip off footplates. The supports typically wrap around the ankle or lower calf area and attach to the wheelchair's footplate or lower leg hardware, holding the foot and ankle in a secure, comfortable position during seating. This is particularly important for users with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury, where uncontrolled limb movement can lead to poor posture, discomfort, or the foot repeatedly slipping from the footplate, creating both a comfort issue and a safety risk during mobility. By keeping the ankle and foot properly positioned, Ankle Huggers help maintain overall postural alignment through the lower limb, which can have flow-on benefits for hip and pelvic positioning as part of a total seating system. They are usually made from a padded, adjustable strap material with a soft inner lining against the skin and a secure hook-and-loop or buckle closure, allowing carers or clinicians to easily adjust tension and remove them for cleaning. As with other specialist seating accessories, correct fitting should be carried out as part of a broader wheelchair seating assessment by an occupational therapist or seating clinician to ensure appropriate positioning and pressure distribution for the individual user.