Toe Off Brace

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

lease explain the Toe Off brace and how it works. I have several AFOs, but they

hurt a lot and,as you say, there is no work out for the leg.

thanks,

Dave

[Guest guest]

Here is a link to check out the brace

http://www.durrettsoandp.com/Business/productsbusiness/belowkneepage.htm

It is made of a lightweight carbon material and looks a lot like shin gards.

Everyone always asks me if I play soccer (ha ha!).

Here is some more info I found on a website

In the last 2/3 years a Scandinavian company has designed and produced an energy

storing foot for amputees. This was found better than the normal artificial

foot; it allowed them to have a longer and faster stride and to stand or

ambulate for a longer time. The company then applied this approach to a design

of AFO which they called a " Toe-Off " . The material used is a combination of

glass, carbon and tefla fibres. This combination in various areas provides

elasticity with good strength. The Toe-Off works through having some flexibility

in the foot section so as you are walking from heel to toe it is building up the

energy to give you a push off. A plastic AFO has no such resilience.

Comment from user Cohen. Wearing the Toe-Off does feel as though you

have a spring in your step, it does help you move forward.

Although the Toe-Off is off the shelf, it needs some adjusting and correct

fitting. You need to consider the heel height of the patient's shoe as to how

much pitch they are putting on the splint. It is not something you can just

quickly put in the shoe and the patient walks away.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Matt,

I have the Toe-Off Brace. It was great at first for me and I thought I was

walking a lot better. Now that I have been wearing them for 1.5 years, I think I

need something better. They are very expensive for " off the shelf " braces.

($2500)

I will write more about them later when I have more time.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Matt:

I recently got a Toe-Off and love it. It is light weight and doesn't cause any

of the problems of pressure sores. My 21 year old son got one and is even

playing basketball in his. We neither one have bi-lateral roll tho, just drop

foot. I have heard they don't work very well if you have bi-lateral roll in the

ankle. Here in Arkansas, the brace was priced at $1,090. But I didn't have to

pay anything for mine. My insurance paid for part and the MDA picked up the

rest of the amount. I have never paid for a brace because I was formally

diagnosed through the MDA and have an annual check up with them. Outside of the

wait at my annual checkup it is worth the effort to go to them because of the

benefits I receive.