GUILDFORD, England, March 31, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The space age looking Aircast walking boot being worn by Wayne Rooney is designed to speed up recovery and provide faster return to full fitness. With just 10 weeks to go before the kick-off of the South African World Cup, Rooney could be back to full fitness, assuming the injury is a simple ankle sprain. Back in 2006, Rooney wore the same Aircast boot just 6 weeks before the German World Cup, after he fractured his 4th metatarsal which aided his miraculous recovery.

Aircast manufacturers DJO commented that the boot uses patented high tech air-cells that massage swelling away from the ankle. This massaging effect increases blood flow to help remove toxins from the damaged tissues and is clinically proven to speed up recovery. This is unlike a plaster cast that simply immobilises the ankle. The Aircast boot allows the wearer to keep mobile and that means muscle wastage (atrophy) is kept to an absolute minimum, helping a faster return to full fitness.

Back in 2002 David Beckham fractured his 2nd metatarsal just 8 weeks before the Japanese World Cup, and using the same Aircast walking boot, he was able to play in the later stages of the competition. The Aircast boot has been used by many top sports people, and combined with other therapies and top class physiotherapy, the time taken to return to fitness, and the rates of recurrence of injury has been reduced.

Rooney also needed the Aircast boot following the fracture of his 5th metatarsal (his little toe) in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2004 v Portugal, where England were knocked out on penalties at the hands of the 'winker' Cristiano Ronaldo.

SOURCE: DJO

CONTACT: For further information, visit http://www.aircast.com or for aquote from a foot and ankle expert, please call Belinda Boyd at 20-20 PR on+44(0)1793-780780 or +44(0)7831-488777 or email belindaboyd@2020pr.com.