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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23

                          ENCORE MEDICAL CORPORATION
                           1996 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

     1.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Encore Medical Corporation 1996 Incentive
Stock Plan is to promote the interests of Encore Medical Corporation and its
shareholders by enabling selected key employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to participate in the long-term growth of the Company by receiving
the opportunity to acquire shares of the Company's Stock and to provide for
additional compensation based on appreciation in the Company's Stock.  The Plan
provides a means to attract and retain key employees of merit and is intended to
stimulate the efforts of such employees by providing an opportunity for capital
appreciation and recognizing outstanding service to the Company, thus
contributing to the long-term growth and profitability of the Company.

     2.  DEFINED TERMS.  The following defined terms have the meanings set forth
below:

     (a) "Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time
to time.

     (b) "Award" or "Awards," except where referring to a particular category of
grant under the Plan, includes Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock
Awards, Deferred Stock Awards, Performance Unit Awards and Other Stock-Based
Awards.

     (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     (d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
successor code and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

     (e) "Committee" means the Management Compensation and Organization
Committee of the Board (or any successor committee as described in Section 5
below); such Committee shall consist of at least two members of the Board, each
of whom shall be a Non-Employee Director.

     (f) "Company" means Encore Medical Corporation.

     (g) "Deferred Stock Award" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a), and Stock issued pursuant to such an Award shall be deemed "Deferred
Stock."

     (h) "Disability" means permanent and total disability, as determined under
procedures established by the Committee for purposes of the Plan.

     (i) "Fair Market Value" on a specified date shall be the average of the
closing prices of the Stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market's National Market System
or whichever other exchange the Company's stock is being traded on the last
three trading days prior to the day immediately following the specified date.

     (j) "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended to be and
designated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code.

     (k) "Non-Employee Director" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 16b-3,
promulgated under the Act, or any successor definition promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act.

     (l) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.

     (m) "Other Stock-Based Award" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(a).

     (n) "Performance Unit Award" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
12(a).

     (o) "Plan" means the Encore Medical Corporation 1996 Incentive Stock Plan,
as amended from time to time.

     (p) "Restricted Stock Award" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9(a).
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     (q) "Retirement" means a severance from the active employment of the
Company or its Subsidiaries by reason of retirement pursuant to the provisions
of any profit sharing, pension or other retirement plan of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, or any contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and
the participant.

     (r) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 16(b) of the Act, as amended from time to
time.

     (s) "Stock" means the common stock, $.001 par value, of the Company.

     (t) "Stock Appreciation Right" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
8(a).

     (u) "Stock Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted
pursuant to Section 7.

     (v) "Subsidiary" means any corporation a majority of whose stock the
Company owns or controls, either directly or indirectly through another
corporation or series of corporations, domestic or foreign.

     (w) "Unrestricted Stock Award" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.

     3.  STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

     (a) SHARES ISSUABLE.  The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and
available for distribution pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be 2,000,000
shares.  Such shares of Stock may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized
and unissued shares or treasury shares.  If (i) an Award expires or terminates
for any reason without being exercised in full or is satisfied without the
distribution of Stock, or (ii) Stock distributed pursuant to an Award is
forfeited or reacquired by the Company, or is surrendered upon exercise of an
Award, the Stock subject to such Award or so forfeited, reacquired or
surrendered shall again be available for distribution for purposes of the Plan.

     (b) CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  In the event of a stock dividend, spin-off,
stock split, any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock
resulting from a subdivision or combination of shares effected without receipt
of consideration by the Company or any other change in corporate structure or
other distribution of stock or property (except ordinary cash dividends)
affecting the Stock, the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments in (i) the
number of and kind of shares of stock or securities underlying Awards that may
thereafter be granted, (ii) the number and kind of shares remaining subject to
outstanding Awards and (iii) the option or purchase price in respect of such
shares.  In the event of any such change in capitalization of the Company, the
Committee may make such additional adjustments in the number and class of shares
of Stock or other securities with respect to which outstanding Awards are
exercisable and with respect to which future Awards may be granted as the
Committee in its sole discretion shall deem equitable or appropriate, subject to
the provisions of Section 18 below.  In the event the Stock is changed into the
same number of shares with a different par value or without par value, the
shares resulting from any such change shall be deemed to be the Stock within the
meaning of the Plan.  Except (i) as expressly provided in the preceding
sentences or (ii) for any distribution or adjustment made with respect to
outstanding shares of Restricted Stock in connection with a distribution or
adjustment made with respect to all other outstanding shares of Stock, any issue
by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into
shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason
thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Stock
subject to any Award.  The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted pursuant
to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to
make or authorize any adjustment, reclassification, reorganization or other
change in its capital or business structure, any merger or consolidation of the
Company, any issue of debt or equity securities having preferences or priorities
as to the Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, any sale or transfer of all or any part of its business or assets, or
any other corporate act or proceeding.

     (c) SUBSTITUTE AWARDS.  The Company may grant Awards under the Plan in
substitution for stock and stock-based awards held by employees of another
corporation who concurrently become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary, as
the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the
Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of
property or stock of the employing corporation.  The Committee may direct that
the substitute Awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee
considers appropriate in the circumstances.

     4.  ELIGIBILITY.  Participants in the Plan will be such officers and other
key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are responsible for or
contribute to the management, growth or profitability of the Company and its

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Subsidiaries and who are selected from time to time by the Committee, in its
sole discretion.  In the case of Awards payable in Stock, no participant shall
be granted during any fiscal year the right to acquire pursuant to Awards
granted under the Plan more than 1,000,000 shares of Stock.  In the case of
Awards payable in cash, no participant shall be granted Awards entitling the
participant to receive more than $10,000,000 in compensation during the life of
the Plan or during the period within which Awards may be payable under the Plan.

     5.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.  The Plan shall be administered by the
Board, the Committee or such other committee of the Board, composed of not less
than two Non-Employee Directors who shall be appointed by the Board and who
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.  (All references to the Committee
hereinafter shall also be deemed to refer to the Board.)  The Committee shall
have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the
Plan, including the power and authority:

        (i) to select the officers and other key employees of the Company and
     its Subsidiaries to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

        (ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of
     Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
     Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Deferred Stock
     Awards, Performance Units Awards, and any Other Stock-Based Awards, or any
     combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more participants;

        (iii) to determine the number of shares to be covered by any Award;

        (iv) to establish the terms and conditions of any Award, including, but
     not limited to:

                (A)  the share price;

                (B)  any restriction or limitation on the grant, vesting or
               exercise of any Award including, but not limited to, the
               attainment (and certification of the attainment) of one or more
               performance goals based on one or more (or any combination) of
               the following business criteria that may apply to the individual
               participant, a Company business unit, or the Company as a whole:
               revenues, net income (before or after tax), earnings, earnings
               per share, shareholders' equity, return on equity, assets, return
               on assets, capital, return on capital, book value, economic value
               added, operating margins, profit margins, cash flow, shareholder
               return, expenses, sales or market share, expense management,
               return on investment, improvements in capital structure, net
               revenue per employee, profitability of an identifiable business
               unit or product, or stock price, or shall be based on any one or
               more (or any combination) of the foregoing business criteria
               before the effect of acquisitions, divestitures, accounting
               changes, restructuring or other special charges or extraordinary
               items, to the extent the Committee specifies, when granting the
               Award, that the effect of any such extraordinary items shall be
               disregarded; and

                (C) any waiver of vesting, acceleration or forfeiture provisions
               regarding any Stock Option or other Award and the Stock relating
               thereto, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine;
               and

        (v) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances
     Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred
     either automatically or at the election of the Participant, and whether and
     to what extent the Company shall pay or credit amounts equal to interest
     (at rates determined by the Committee), dividends or deemed dividends on
     such deferrals.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and
conclusive authority to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind
rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and
provisions of the respective Award agreements and to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan.
The Committee's determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be
made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive,
Awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated).  Any
determination made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan with
respect to any Award shall be made in its sole discretion at the time of the
grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan,
at any

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time thereafter. All decisions by the Committee made pursuant to the provisions
of the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and
Plan participants.

     6.  LIMITATIONS ON TERM AND DATE OF AWARDS.

     (a) DURATION OF AWARDS.  Subject to Section 19(c) below, no restrictions or
limitations on any Award shall extend beyond ten years from the grant date,
except that deferrals of the receipt of Stock or other benefits under the Plan
elected by participants may extend beyond such date.

     (b) TERM.  No Award shall be granted more than ten years after the
effective date of the Plan as specified in Section 20 below, but then
outstanding Awards may extend beyond such date.

     7.  STOCK OPTIONS.  Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to
other Awards and may be of two types:  Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified
Stock Options.  Each Stock Option shall be clearly identified as to its status
as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option at the date of
grant.  To the extent that any Stock Option denominated as an Incentive Stock
Option does not qualify as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code, it shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock
Option.  Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions and shall be evidenced by option agreements, which shall
contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of
the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

     (a) OPTION PRICE.  The option price per share of Stock purchasable under a
Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant and set
forth in the option agreement but shall be (i) in the case of Incentive Stock
Options, not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and
(ii) in the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options, not less than 50% of Fair
Market Value on the date of grant; provided, however, that the option price per
share of Stock purchasable under a Non-Qualified Stock Option may also be the
par value per share of Stock.  If an officer or key employee owns or is deemed
to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of
the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation, and an Incentive Stock
Option is granted to such officer or key employee, the option price shall be no
less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.  The grant of a
Stock Option shall occur on the date the Committee by resolution designates an
officer or employee to receive a grant of a Stock Option, determines the number
of shares of Stock covered by the Stock Option and specifies the terms and
provisions of the option agreement.

     (b) OPTION TERM.  Unless an option agreement provides for a shorter
exercise period, any Stock Option shall be exercisable not later than ten years
after the Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if an Incentive Stock
Option is granted to an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent
corporation, the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than five
years from the date of grant.

     (c) EXERCISABILITY.  Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or
times and subject to such terms and conditions, and in such amounts, as the
Committee shall specify in the option agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
subsequent to the grant of a Stock Option, the Committee, at any time before the
complete expiration of such Stock Option, may accelerate the time or times at
which such Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part.  Except as
provided in subsections (f), (g), (h) and (i) below, a Stock Option may not be
exercised by the holder unless the holder is then, and continually after the
grant of the Stock Option has been, an employee of the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries.

     (d) METHOD OF EXERCISE.  Stock Options may be exercised at any time during
the option period by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying
the number of shares to be purchased.  Except as provided in subsection (k)
below, such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase
price, either by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the
Committee, or by delivery of shares of Stock as provided in this subsection.  As
determined by the Committee, in its discretion, at (or, in the case of Non-
Qualified Stock Options, at or after) the time of grant, payment in full or part
may also be made in the form of shares of Stock not then subject to restrictions
(but which may include shares the disposition of which constitutes a
disqualifying disposition for purposes of obtaining incentive stock option
treatment under the Code).  Shares of Stock so surrendered shall be valued at
Fair Market Value on the exercise date.  Except as provided in subsection (k)
below, no shares of Stock shall be issued until full payment therefor has been
made.  An optionee shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company,
including the right to vote the shares and the right to receive dividends, with
respect to shares subject to a Stock Option when the optionee has given written
notice of exercise, has paid in full for such shares and, if requested, has
given the representation described in Section 19(c) below.

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     (e) TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.  Options considered to be "Incentive Stock
Options" under the Plan shall not be transferable by the optionee otherwise than
by will or under the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable,
during his or her lifetime, only by him or her or by the guardian or legal
representative of the optionee.  Options which are deemed to be "Non qualified"
Stock Options under the Plan and other grants under the Plan shall only be
transferable by the optionee either (i) by will or under the laws of descent and
distribution, or (ii) to optionee's spouse, parents, children, grandchildren,
brothers, sisters, or to a partnership or corporation controlled by any of the
aforementioned parties.  Such permitted transfer may be by will or intestate
succession or by inter vivos transfer.

     (f) TERMINATION BY DEATH.  If an optionee's employment with the Company or
any Subsidiary terminates by reason of death, any Stock Option held by such
optionee may thereafter be exercised, to the extent exercisable at the time of
death (or on such accelerated basis as the Committee shall at any time
determine), by the legal representative or legatee of the optionee, for a period
of one year (or such other period as the Committee shall specify at or after the
time of grant) from the date of death or until the expiration of the stated term
of the Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter.

     (g) TERMINATION BY DISABILITY.  If an optionee's employment with the
Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Disability, any Stock Option
held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent
it was exercisable at the time of termination (or on such accelerated basis as
the Committee may at any time determine) for a period of one year (or such other
period as the Committee shall specify at or after the time of grant) from the
date of such termination or until the expiration of the stated term of the Stock
Option, whichever period is the shorter.  Except as otherwise provided by the
Committee at the time of grant, the death of an optionee during such exercise
period shall extend such period for one year following death, or until the
expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option, whichever period is the
shorter.

     (h) TERMINATION BY RETIREMENT.  If an optionee's employment with the
Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Retirement, any Stock Option
held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent
it was exercisable at the time of Retirement (or on such accelerated basis as
the Committee may at any time determine) for a period of (i) in the case of
Incentive Stock Options, three months, and (ii) in the case of Non-Qualified
Stock Options, one year (or such other period as the Committee shall specify at
or after the time of grant), from the date of Retirement or until the expiration
of the stated term of the Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter.  Except
as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of grant, the death of an
optionee during such exercise period shall extend such period for one year
following death, or until the expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option,
whichever period is the shorter.

     (i) OTHER TERMINATION.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if an
optionee's employment with the Company or any Subsidiary terminates for any
reason other than death, Disability or Retirement, the Stock Option held by such
optionee may thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent it was
exercisable at the time of termination, for a period of thirty (30) days from
the date of such termination or until the expiration of the stated term of the
Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter.

     (j) FORM OF SETTLEMENT.  The Committee may provide in the option agreement
that upon receipt of written notice of exercise, the Committee may elect to
settle all or a part of the portion of any Stock Option so exercised by paying
the optionee an amount, in cash or Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market
Value of the Stock over the exercise price (the "Spread Value") (determined on
the date the Stock Option is exercised).

     (k) PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN CREDIT ASSISTED TRANSACTIONS.  To the extent not
inconsistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or Rule 16b-3, any
optionee desiring to obtain credit from a broker, dealer or other "creditor" as
defined in Regulation T issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (provided that such broker, dealer or creditor has been approved by the
Committee) to assist in exercising a Stock Option may deliver to such creditor
an exercise notice properly executed by such optionee with respect to such Stock
Option, together with instructions to the Company to deliver the resulting Stock
to the creditor for deposit into a designated account.  Upon receipt of such
exercise notice and related instructions in a form acceptable to the Company,
the Company shall confirm to the creditor that it will deliver to the creditor
the Stock covered by such exercise notice and instructions promptly following
receipt of the exercise price from the creditor.  To the extent not inconsistent
with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or Rule 16b-3, upon request the
Company may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, deliver to the
creditor shares of Stock resulting from an assisted exercise prior to receipt of
the option price for such shares if the creditor has delivered to the

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Company, in addition to the other documents contemplated hereby, the creditor's
agreement to pay the Company such exercise price in cash within five days after
delivery of such shares. The credit assistance contemplated hereby may include a
margin loan by the creditor secured by the Stock purchased upon exercise of a
Stock Option or an immediate sale of some or all of such Stock by the creditor
to obtain or recover the option price that the creditor has committed to pay to
the Company.

     (l) SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  At the time
any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan is exercised, the Company
shall be entitled to legend the certificates representing the shares of Stock
purchased pursuant to such Incentive Stock Option to clearly identify them as
representing shares purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option that
may be subject to income tax withholding requirements as set forth in Section 15
below.  Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the
Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or
altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be
exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code or,
without the consent of the affected optionee, to disqualify any Incentive Stock
Option under Section 422 of the Code.

     8.  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

     (a) GENERAL.  A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the
recipient to receive an amount in cash or shares of Stock (or forms of payment
permitted under subsection (d) below) or a combination thereof having a value
equal to (or if the Committee shall so determine at time of grant, less than)
the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise
over the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant (or over the
option exercise price, if the Stock Appreciation Right was granted in tandem
with a Stock Option) multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which
the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee
having the right to determine the form of payment.

     (b) GRANT AND EXERCISE.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem
with, or independently of, any Stock Option granted under the Plan.  In the case
of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with a Non-Qualified Stock
Option, such Stock Appreciation Right may be granted either at or after the time
of grant of such option.  In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in
tandem with an Incentive Stock Option, such Stock Appreciation Right may be
granted only at the time of grant of such option.  A Stock Appreciation Right or
applicable portion thereof granted in tandem with a Stock Option shall terminate
and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related
Stock Option, except that a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to
less than the full number of shares covered by a related Stock Option shall not
be reduced until the exercise or termination of the related Stock Option exceeds
the number of shares not covered by the Stock Appreciation Right.

     (c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to
such terms and conditions as shall be determined from time to time by the
Committee, including the following:

        (i) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Stock Options shall
be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the related
Stock Option shall be exercisable. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation
Right, the applicable portion of any related Stock Option shall be surrendered.

        (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with a Stock Option
shall be transferable only with such Stock Option. Stock Appreciation Rights
shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. All Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during the
participant's lifetime only by the participant or the participant's legal
representative or guardian.

        (iii)  Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive
Stock Option may be exercised only when the market price of the Stock subject to
the Incentive Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such option.

     (d) FORM OF SETTLEMENT.  Subject to Section 19(c) below, shares of Stock
issued upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be free of all
restrictions under the Plan, except as otherwise provided in this subsection
(d).  The Committee may provide at time of grant of a Stock Appreciation Right
that such shares shall be in the form of Restricted Stock or rights to acquire
Deferred Stock or may reserve the right to provide so at any time after the date
of grant.  Any such shares and any shares subject to rights to acquire Deferred
Stock shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Stock
Appreciation Right without regard to any restrictions or deferral limitations.

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     (e) RULES RELATING TO EXERCISE.  Where a Stock Appreciation Right relates
to an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee may prescribe, by rule of general
application, such other measure of value as it may determine but not in excess
of an amount consistent with the qualification of such Stock Option as an
"incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code.

     9.  RESTRICTED STOCK.

     (a) GENERAL.  A Restricted Stock Award is an Award entitling the recipient
to acquire shares of Stock, subject to such conditions, including the right of
the Company during a specified period or periods to repurchase such shares at
their original price or to require forfeiture of such shares (if no cash
consideration was paid) upon the participant's termination of employment, as the
Committee may determine at the time of grant.  Shares of Restricted Stock may be
granted or sold in respect of past services or other valid consideration.

     (b) AWARD AGREEMENT AND CERTIFICATES.  A participant who is granted a
Restricted Stock Award shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless
the participant shall have accepted the Award within sixty days (or such shorter
period as the Committee may specify) following the Award date by executing and
delivering to the Company a Restricted Stock Award agreement in such form as the
Committee shall determine and by making payment to the Company by certified or
bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Committee for any cash
consideration required to be paid in connection with such Restricted Stock
Award.  Each participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award shall be issued a
certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock.  Such certificate
shall be registered in the name of the participant and deposited with the
Company or its designee, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the
terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in
the following form:

          "This certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are
          subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture and
          restrictions against transfer) contained in the Encore Medical
          Corporation 1996 Incentive Stock Plan and an agreement entered into
          between the registered owner and Encore Medical Corporation.  Release
          from such terms and conditions shall be obtained only in accordance
          with the provisions of the Plan and the Agreement, copies of which are
          on file in the office of the Secretary of Encore Medical Corporation,
          located in its corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.

The Committee may require that, as a condition of any Restricted Stock Award,
the participant shall have delivered to the Company a stock power, endorsed in
blank, relating to the Stock covered by such Award.

     (c) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  Upon complying with subsection (b) above, a
participant shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the
Restricted Stock, including voting and dividend rights, subject to
nontransferability restrictions, Company repurchase or forfeiture rights and any
other condition described in this Section 9 or contained in the Restricted Stock
Award agreement.  The Restricted Stock Award agreement may require or permit the
immediate payment, waiver, deferral, or investment of dividends paid on the
Restricted Stock.

     (d) RESTRICTIONS.  Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as
specifically provided herein and in the Restricted Stock Award agreement. The
Committee shall specify the date or dates (which may depend upon or be related
to the attainment of performance goals or such other factors or criteria as the
Committee shall determine) on which the non-transferability of the Restricted
Stock and the obligation to forfeit or resell such shares to the Company shall
lapse.  The Committee may provide for the lapse of such restrictions in
installments and at any time may accelerate such date or dates and otherwise
waive or, subject to Section 18 below, amend any terms and conditions of the
Award.  Except as otherwise may be provided in the Award agreement or determined
by the Committee at any time after the date of grant, in the event of
termination of employment of a participant with the Company and its Subsidiaries
for any reason (including death), the participant or the participant's legal
representative shall resell to the Company, at the cash consideration paid
therefor, all Restricted Stock, and the Company shall purchase such shares at
that price, or if no cash consideration was paid, all shares of Restricted Stock
awarded to the participant shall automatically be forfeited to the Company.  Any
shares of Stock or other securities of the Company or any other entity that are
issued as a distribution on, or in exchange for, Restricted Stock or into which
Restricted Stock is converted as a result of a recapitalization, stock dividend,
distribution of securities, stock split or combination of shares or a merger,
consolidation or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company shall be
subject to the restrictions set forth in the Restricted Stock Award agreement,
which shall inure to the benefit of any surviving or successor corporation that
is the

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<PAGE>

issuer of such securities. Upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable to a
participant's Restricted Stock, certificates for shares of Stock free of any
restrictive legend shall be delivered to the participant or his legal
representative or guardian.

     (e) SECTION 83(B) ELECTION.  Any Restricted Stock Award agreement may
provide that the participant may not elect to be taxed with respect to such
Award in accordance with Section 83(b) of the Code.

     10.  UNRESTRICTED STOCK.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant
or sell to any participant shares of Stock free of restrictions under the Plan
("Unrestricted Stock").  Shares of Unrestricted Stock may be granted or sold in
respect of past services or other valid consideration.  Any purchase of
Unrestricted Stock by a recipient must take place within sixty days after the
time of grant of the right to purchase such shares.

     11.  DEFERRED STOCK AWARDS.

     (a) GENERAL.  A Deferred Stock Award is an Award entitling the recipient to
acquire shares of Stock without  payment in one or more installments at a future
date or dates, all as determined by the Committee.  The Committee may also
condition such acquisition on the attainment of specified performance goals or
such other factors or criteria as the Committee shall determine.

     (b) AWARD AGREEMENT.  A participant who is granted a Deferred Stock Award
shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless within sixty days of the
grant of such Award (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify) the
participant shall have accepted the Award by executing and delivering to the
Company a Deferred Stock Award agreement.

     (c) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER.  Deferred Stock Awards and rights with respect
to such Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered.  Rights with respect to such Awards shall be exercisable during the
participant's lifetime only by the participant or the participant's legal
representative or guardian.

     (d) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  A participant receiving a Deferred Stock
Award will have rights of a shareholder only as to shares actually received by
the participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the
Award but not actually received by the participant.  A participant shall be
entitled to receive a certificate for shares of Stock only upon satisfaction of
all conditions specified in the Deferred Stock Award agreement.

     (e) ELECTIVE DEFERRAL.  A participant may elect to further defer receipt of
the Stock payable under a Deferred Stock Award (or an installment of the Award)
for a specified period or until a specified event, subject in each case to the
Committee's approval and under such terms as determined by the Committee.
Subject to any exceptions adopted by the Committee, such election must generally
be made at least 12 months prior to completion of the deferral period for the
Award (or for such installment of the Award).

     (f) TERMINATION.  Except as may otherwise be provided in the Deferred Stock
Award agreement, a participant's rights in all Deferred Stock Awards shall
automatically terminate thirty (30) days after the participant's termination of
employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason excluding
death, in which case the participant's rights shall automatically terminate one
(1) year after such termination.  Unless otherwise provided in the terms of an
Award, at any time prior to the participant's termination of employment, the
Committee may in its discretion accelerate, waive, or, subject to Section 18
below, amend any or all of the restrictions or conditions imposed under any
Deferred Stock Award.

     (g) PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF DEFERRED STOCK.  Without limiting the right of
the Committee to specify different terms, the Deferred Stock Award agreement may
either make no provisions for, or may require or permit the immediate payment,
deferral, or investment of amounts equal to, or less than, any cash dividends
that would have been payable on the Deferred Stock had such Stock been
outstanding, all as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

     12.  PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS.

     (a) GENERAL.  A Performance Unit Award is an Award entitling the recipient
to acquire cash or shares of Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of
Stock, upon the attainment of specified performance goals.  The Committee in its
sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance Unit Awards
shall be made, the performance goals applicable under each such Award, the
periods during which performance is to be measured and all other

                                       8
<PAGE>

limitations and conditions applicable to a Performance Unit Award. Performance
goals may vary from participant to participant and between groups of
participants and shall be based upon such Company, business unit or individual
performance factors or criteria as the Committee may deem appropriate, including
those factors described in Section 5(iv)(B) above. Performance periods may
overlap and participants may participate simultaneously with respect to
Performance Unit Awards that are subject to different performance periods and
different performance goals. The Committee may adjust the performance goals and
periods applicable to a Performance Unit Award to take into account changes in
law and accounting and tax rules and to make such adjustments as the Committee
deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the inclusion or exclusion of the
impact of extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances in order to
avoid windfalls or hardships. Performance Units may be awarded independent of or
in connection with the grant of any other Award under the Plan.

     (b) AWARD AGREEMENT.  A participant shall have no rights with respect to a
Performance Unit Award unless within sixty days of the grant of such Award (or
such shorter period as the Committee may specify) the participant shall have
accepted the Award by executing and delivering to the Company a Performance Unit
Award agreement.

     (c) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.  Performance Unit Awards and all rights with
respect to such Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise encumbered, and if exercisable over a specified period, shall be
exercisable during the participant's lifetime only by the participant or the
participant's legal representative or guardian.

     (d) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  A participant receiving a Performance Unit
Award will have rights of a shareholder only as to shares of Stock actually
received by the participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares
subject to the Award but not actually received by the participant.  A
participant shall be entitled to receive a certificate evidencing the
acquisition of shares of Stock under a Performance Unit Award only upon
satisfaction of all conditions specified in the Performance Unit Award
agreement.

     (e) TERMINATION. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of an Award, except
as may otherwise be provided by the Committee at any time prior to the
termination of employment, a participant's rights and all Performance Unit
Awards shall automatically terminate thirty (30) days after the participant's
termination of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason
excluding death, in which case the participant's rights shall automatically
terminate one (1) year after such termination.

     (f) ACCELERATION; WAIVER.  At any time prior to the participant's
termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries, by death or
disability [or retirement], the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate,
waive, or, subject to Section 18 below, amend any or all of the goals,
restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Unit Award.

     (g) EXERCISE.  The Committee in its sole discretion shall establish
procedures to be followed in exercising any Performance Unit Award, which
procedures shall be set forth in the Performance Unit Award agreement.  The
Committee may at any time provide that payment under a Performance Unit Award
shall be made, upon satisfaction of the applicable performance goals, without
any exercise by the participant.  Except as otherwise specified by the
Committee, (i) a Performance Unit granted in tandem with a Stock Option may be
exercised only while the Stock Option is exercisable, and (ii) the exercise of a
Performance Unit granted in tandem with any Award shall reduce the number of
shares of Stock subject to the related Award on such basis as is specified in
the Performance Unit Award agreement.



                                       9
<PAGE>

     13.  OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.

     (a) GENERAL.  The Committee may grant other Awards under which Stock is or
may in the future be acquired ("Other Stock-Based Awards").  Such Awards may
include, without limitation, debt securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Stock upon such conditions, including attainment of performance
goals, as the Committee shall determine.  Subject to the purchase price
limitations in subsection (b) below, such convertible or exchangeable securities
may have such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of
grant.  However, no convertible or exchangeable debt shall be issued unless the
Committee shall have provided (by the Company's right of repurchase, right to
require conversion or exchange, or other means deemed appropriate by the
Committee) a means of avoiding any right of the holders of such debt to prevent
a Company transaction by reason of covenants in such debt.

     (b) PURCHASE PRICE; FORM OF PAYMENT.  The Committee may determine the
consideration, if any, payable upon the issuance or exercise of an Other Stock-
Based Award.  The Committee may permit payment by certified check, bank check or
other instrument acceptable to the Committee or by surrender of other shares of
Stock (excluding shares then subject to restrictions under the Plan).

     (c) FORFEITURE OF AWARDS; REPURCHASE OF STOCK; ACCELERATION OR WAIVER OF
RESTRICTIONS.  The Committee may determine the conditions under which an Other
Stock-Based Award shall be forfeited or, in the case of an Award involving a
payment by the recipient, the conditions under which the Company may or must
repurchase such Award or related Stock.  The Committee may in its sole
discretion, at any time prior to a participant's termination of employment with
the Company and its Subsidiaries, by death or disability [or retirement],
accelerate, waive, or, subject to Section 18 below, amend any or all of the
limitations or conditions imposed under any Other Stock-Based Award.

     (d) AWARD AGREEMENTS. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of an Award, a
participant shall have no rights with respect to any Other Stock-Based Award
unless within sixty days after the grant of such Award (or such shorter period
as the Committee may specify) the participant shall have accepted the Award by
executing and delivering to the Company an Other Stock-Based Award agreement.

     (e) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.  Other Stock-Based Awards may not be sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged, or encumbered except as may be provided in the
Other Stock-Based Award agreement.  However, in no event shall any Other Stock-
Based Award be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or be exercisable during the participant's lifetime by other than
the participant or the participant's legal representative or guardian.

     (f) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  A recipient of any Other Stock-Based Award
will have rights of a shareholder only at the time and to the extent, if any,
specified by the Committee in the Other Stock-Based Award agreement.

     (g) DEEMED DIVIDEND PAYMENTS; DEFERRALS.  Without limiting the right of the
Committee to specify different terms, an Other Stock-Based Award agreement may
require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral, or investment of
dividends or deemed dividends payable or deemed payable on Stock subject to the
Award.

     14.  SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.

     (a) LOANS.  The Company may in its sole discretion make a loan to the
recipient of an Award hereunder, either on or after the date of grant of such
Award.  Such loans may be either in connection with exercise of a Stock Option,
a Stock Appreciation Right or an Other Stock-Based Award, in connection with the
purchase of shares under any Award, or in connection with the payment of any
federal, state and local income taxes in respect of income recognized under an
Award.  The Committee shall have full authority to decide whether to make a loan
hereunder and to determine the amount, term, and provisions of any such loan,
including the interest rate (which may be zero) charged in respect of any such
loan, whether the loan is to be secured or unsecured, the terms on which the
loan is to be repaid and the conditions, if any, under which it may be forgiven.
However, no loan hereunder shall provide or reimburse to the borrower the amount
used by him for the payment of the par value of any shares of Stock issued, have
a term (including extensions) exceeding ten years in duration or be in amount
exceeding the total exercise or purchase price paid by the borrower under an
Award or for related Stock under the Plan plus an amount equal to the cash
payment permitted in subsection (b) below.

                                       10
<PAGE>

     (b) CASH PAYMENTS.  The Committee may, at any time and in its discretion,
authorize a cash payment, in respect of the grant or exercise of an Award under
the Plan or the lapse or waiver of restrictions under an Award, which shall not
exceed the amount that would be required in order to pay in full the federal,
state and local income taxes due as a result of income recognized by the
recipient as a consequence of (i) the receipt of an Award or the exercise of
rights thereunder and (ii) the receipt of such cash payment.  The Committee
shall have complete authority to decide whether to make such cash payments in
any case, to make provisions for such payments either simultaneously with or
after the grant of the associated Award, and to determine the amount of any such
payment.

     15.  WITHHOLDING.  Whenever the Company proposes or is required to issue or
transfer shares of Stock under the Plan, the Company shall have the right to
require the recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy
any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery
of any certificate or certificates for such shares.  If a participant surrenders
shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option
in payment of the option price of a Stock Option or the purchase price under
another Award, and such surrender constitutes a disqualifying disposition for
purposes of obtaining incentive stock option treatment under the Code, the
Company shall have the right to require the participant to remit to the Company
an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax
requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such
shares.  Whenever under the Plan payments are to be made in cash, such payments
shall be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local
withholding tax requirements.  A recipient may elect, with respect to any Non-
Qualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award,
Unrestricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award, Performance Unit Award or Other
Stock-Based Award that is paid in whole or in part in Stock, to surrender or
authorize the Company to withhold shares of Stock (valued at Fair Market Value
on the date of surrender or withholding of the shares) in satisfaction of all
such withholding requirements.  The Committee shall have the discretion to
provide (by general rule or a provision in the specific Award agreement) that,
at the election of the recipient, "federal, state and local withholding tax
requirements" shall be deemed to be any amount designated by the recipient that
does not exceed his estimated federal, state and local tax obligations
associated with the transaction, including FICA taxes to the extent applicable.

     16.  MERGER; LIQUIDATION.  If the Company shall be the surviving
corporation in any merger, recapitalization or similar reorganization, the
holder of each outstanding Stock Option shall be entitled to purchase, at the
same times and upon the same terms and conditions as are then provided in the
Stock Option, the number and class of shares of Stock or other securities to
which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option at
the time of such transaction would have been entitled to receive as a result of
such transaction, and a corresponding adjustment shall be made in connection
with determining the value of any related Stock Appreciation Right.  In the
event of any such change in capitalization of the Company, the Committee may
make such additional adjustments in the number and class of shares of stock or
other securities with respect to which outstanding Awards are exercisable and
with respect to which future Awards may be granted as the Committee in its sole
discretion shall deem equitable or appropriate, subject to the provisions of
Section 18 below.  In the event of dissolution or liquidation of the Company or
a merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the Committee in
its sole discretion may, as to any outstanding Awards, make such substitution or
adjustment in the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the
Plan and in the number or purchase price (if any) of shares subject to such
Awards as it may determine, or accelerate, amend, or terminate such Awards upon
such terms and conditions as it shall provide, which, in the case of the
termination of the vested portion of any Award, shall require payment or other
consideration that the Committee deems equitable in the circumstances.

     17.  UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN.  With respect to the portion of any Award
that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other
consideration not received by a participant, a participant shall have no rights
greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Committee
shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards.  In
its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other
arrangements to meet the Company's obligations to deliver Stock or make payments
with respect to Awards, provided that the existence of such trusts or other
arrangements is consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan.

     18.  AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION.  The Board may amend, alter or discontinue
the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuance shall be made that
would impair the rights of an optionee under a Stock Option or a recipient of
another Award theretofore granted without the optionee's or recipient's consent;
provided, however, that any alteration or amendment that would require
shareholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to meet any applicable
legal or regulatory requirements shall be effective only if it is approved by
the shareholders of the Company in the manner required thereby. Unless otherwise
provided in the terms of an Award, the Committee may at any time decrease or
cancel any outstanding Award (or provide substitute Awards at the same or a
reduced exercise or purchase price or with no exercise or purchase price, but
such price, if any, must satisfy the requirements that would apply to the
substitute or

                                       11
<PAGE>

amended Award if it were then initially granted under the Plan) for the purpose
of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action
shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the
recipient's consent.

     19.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

     (a) TRANSFERS.  For purposes of the Plan, the transfer to the employment by
the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one
Subsidiary to another, shall not be deemed a termination of employment.

     (b) LEAVES OF ABSENCE.  The Committee may in its discretion determine
whether a leave of absence constitutes a termination of employment for purposes
of the Plan and the impact, if any, of such leave of absence on Awards
previously granted to a holder who takes a leave of absence.

     (c) RESTRICTIONS ON DELIVERY AND SALE OF SHARES.  Each Award granted under
the Plan is subject to the condition that if at any time the Committee, in its
discretion, shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of
the Stock covered by such Award upon any securities exchange or under any state
or federal law is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with
the granting of such Award or the purchase or delivery of Stock thereunder, the
delivery of any or all shares pursuant to such Award may be withheld unless and
until such listing, registration or qualification shall have been effected.  If
a registration statement is not in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or any applicable state securities laws with respect to the shares of
Stock purchasable or otherwise deliverable under Awards then outstanding, the
Committee may require, as a condition of any delivery of Stock pursuant to an
Award, that the recipient of Stock represent, in writing, that the shares
received pursuant to the Award are being acquired for investment and not with a
view to distribution and agree that the Stock will not be disposed of except
pursuant to an effective registration statement, unless the Company shall have
received an opinion of counsel that such disposition is exempt from such
requirement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable
state securities laws.  The Company may endorse on certificates representing
shares delivered pursuant to an Award such legends referring to the foregoing
representations or restrictions or any applicable restrictions on resale as the
Company, in its discretion, shall deem appropriate.

     (d) OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS; NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.  Nothing
contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional
compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is
required; such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases.  The adoption of the Plan does not confer upon any
employee any right to continued employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, or
affect the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of
any of its employees at any time.

     (e) GOVERNING LAW.  The Plan and all Awards made and actions taken
thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas.

     20.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan shall become effective on November 8, 1996,
the date of its adoption by the Board, subject, however, to the approval of the
Plan by the shareholders of the Company at their next Annual Meeting, or sooner
if presented for approval by the shareholders prior to such Annual Meeting.
Subject to approval by the shareholders, and to the requirement that no Stock
may be issued hereunder prior to such approval, Awards may be granted hereunder
on and after adoption of the Plan by the Board.  Unless shareholder approval is
obtained by November 7, 1997, this Plan and any Award granted hereunder shall
become void thereafter.

                                       12