Can a special brace stop ankle arthritis after a break?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

TIBIAL PILON FRACTURE PARTICIPANTS: Inclusion Criteria: * Ages: 18-65 * Sustained unilateral fracture of the tibial pilon within the preceding 5 years * The fracture has completely healed * Ability to walk 50 feet without use of an assistive device (cane, crutch, etc.) * Ability to walk at a slow to moderate pace * Shoe size between women's 8 and 13.5 or men's 6.5 and 13 * Ability to read and write in English and provide written informed consent * Individuals with elevated contact stress according to model generated using PedCAT standing CT images (will be answered after completing visit one) Exclusion Criteria: * Pain \> 6/10 while walking * Increase in pain during testing of 3/10 or greater * Neurologic, musculoskeletal (including bilateral fractures) or other condition limiting function of the contralateral extremity * Medical or psychological condition that would preclude functional testing (ex. moderate or severe brain injury, stroke, heart disease) * Wounds to the calf that would prevent CDO fitting * Fractures secondary to neuropathy or severe osteopenia * Classification as non-ambulatory * Previous fractures near the tibial pilon on the involved limb * Surgery on involved limb anticipated in the next 6 months * Requirement of a knee stabilizing device (i.e. KAFO, KO…) to perform daily activities * Visual or hearing impairments that limit walking ability or limit the ability to comply with instructions given during testing * BMI greater than 40 * Pregnancy- Per participant self-report. Due to the expected small number of pregnant individuals and resulting inability to account for its effect on resulting outcomes, participants will be withdrawn from the study. HEALTHY ABLE-BODIED PARTICIPANTS: Patient Inclusion Criteria * Between the ages of 18 and 65 * Shoe size between women's 8 and 13.5 or men's 6.5 and 13 * Healthy individuals without a current complaint of lower extremity pain, spine pain, or medical or neuromusculoskeletal disorders that have limited participation in work or exercise in the last 6 months * Full active range of motion of the bilateral lower extremities and spine * Ability to hop without pain * Ability to perform a full squat without pain * Ability to read and write in English and provide written informed consent Patient Exclusion Criteria * Diagnosed moderate or severe brain injury * Prior lower extremity injury resulting in surgery or limiting function for greater than 6 weeks * Diagnosis of a physical or psychological condition that would preclude testing (e.g. cardiac condition, clotting disorder, pulmonary condition) * Visual or hearing impairment that would interfere with instructions given during testing * Require an assistive device * Wounds to the foot or calf that would prevent CDO use * BMI greater than 40 * Pregnancy - Per participant self-report. Due to the expected small number of pregnant individuals and resulting inability to account for its effect on resulting outcomes, participants will be withdrawn from the study