Re: Comparison Study SAFOs and AFOs

[Guest guest]

> Despite the AFO providing greater control of ankle plantarflexion, the

> SAFO significantly reduced maximum knee and hip flexion during swing

> when compared to the AFO condition.

>

Ok, will someone please explain this to me in English? :-)

Is reducing knee and hip flexion a good thing? Are they saying that SAFOs give

a person a

more normal gait versus rigid AFOs? Even if this is true, do the SAFOs provide

the level of

support that an AFO has in a person with no calf muscle and very weak thigh

muscles?

~ *** , yes apparently what I understand from this the SAFOs allow

for a much more even gait (meaning knees and hips in proper alignment) As for

the support issue, I wondered about this too. The website for SAFOs says they

are for drop foot, but it doesn't say anything about atrophied leg muscles. Look

at the pictures here - there doesn't seem to be any support up the back of the

calf where muscle atrophy is, or even in the front of the leg where the peroneal

muscle is weak. http://www.safo.eu.com/en/faq.html There is more info at the

website too. People are writing me from all over and I have no experience and

donhave never seen the SAFOs. But I have seen AFOs and Toe Offs, so I am trying

to learn. I contacted the company with some questions I had, maybe you want to

do the same. ~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Good timing on this question!

A friend of mine is taking the Dorset information to her physiatrist and her

physical therapist who has a gait clinic here in Baltimore. She is going to ask

for herself, as she has a spinal cord injury, but is also going to get some

information regarding exactly what you are talking about. My calf muscles and

quadriceps are what they call " paralyzed " and this too was my same concern. The

Toe Offs are not enough brace to help with the severe atrophy. I have been

wearing them for 2 years and already feel like it is time for something else. My

dilemma now is to try something like this or go for the whole bracing above the

knee.

I will let you know tomorrow what we find out.

Jackie