AFOS for drop foot

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have been wearing an AFO for 20 yrs. I just had ankle/heel surgery to stop

me from walking on the side of my foot. I am still going to have to wear an

AFO for foot drop. What kind do you wear? I am not sure of the different

kinds out there. Is there a place to go to see all the different kinds?

Bobbie

[Guest guest]

Bobbie,

Currently I wear a typical plastic AFO, however, last week I went to the MDA

clinic and saw

the motion analysis lab there for them to videotape me walking with AFOs and

without to

determine if these are the best for me. Their inital assessment was that they

are not

because I've had a fall while wearing my braces and broke my foot, along with

the fact that

these are made at a 90 degree angle and I have to wear shoes with absolutely NO

heel at

all and the only thing that works for me is boy's wrestling shoes. Any heel and

it makes

my knee buckle and I fall on my face.

So, I wait to hear back from them, but they mentioned a plastic AFO that has

hinges and a

spring design at the ankle area and you can have it set for a locked position or

with some

give so the ankle can flex when walking. I'm not too sure how that's all going

to work for

me, but they've got to be better than what I have right now.

The pair I have right now are the only pair I've ever had in the 29 years of

weaing AFOs

that did not have a foam lining on the inside and my heels really start killing

me after

being on my feet for a while. I really need the padding under my heel that foam

provides

not only to cushion my heel but to help prevent such a pounding impact on my hip

sockets every time I walk.

I've never seen a photo of the new AFO they're talking about, but hopefully next

time I go

they'll have a brochure or something for me to see.

~

[Guest guest]

I think you'll enjoy the AFOs with hinges and a spring assist. That is what I

have. It is much better than the AFOs without the ankle joint. The whole time I

has some without ankle joints I felt like I was going to fall especially when I

was going down steps.

Now with ankle joints I can walk much more naturally.

I really hate that you had to wear the ones you have for so long before getting

some with ankle joints. Most drs don't Rx them that way anymore. While your

at it you might consider the metal braces. They are even easier for me to wear

and there is less skin contact which is the cause of skin rubbing and the hot

sticky feeling that you get with plastic braces in the summer. Good luck with

the new AFOs. I bet you'll like them.

Bob