Re: Questions on AFOs in children

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry,

My daughter was diagnosed last spring, she is 7 years old. She also was

recommended for braces, which we will pick up on Monday. Her PT & orthotist

recommended a brace from Allard USA, the Ypsilon model. I don't know how well

it will work, or have any other comparison, but they were both excited at the

new technology.

My daughter will be the first pediatric recipient of the model for this

technician I think. They said it recently has become available in children's

sizes. She is small for her age too, only a fraction bigger than her 5 year old

sister, so it may be an option for your daughter.

It is a carbon composite frame with minimal contact on the legs, so hopefully it

won't be so hot & uncomfortable. She will also have another brace on the bottom

of her leg, like a plastic boot I think, but we are hopeful it will help her

walk a little more securely. If you are interested in looking at these braces,

the web site is www.allardusa.com. Click on the ToeOFF section and you'll see

the Ypsilon brace.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry,

I understand how you feel. Looking back at Adam he never would have been able to

be as active as he is without AFOs. We started with DAFOs by Cascade. They are

made for young kids and fun for them to design.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/24/2008 10:21:07 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

mamadino@... writes:

Ypsilon : click on toe off

_Welcome to Allard USA_ (http://www.allardusa.com/)

I don't want to be a negative and I hope these work. But without ankle

support this brace would be challenging for most of us ith CMT.

My son had a pair of toe offs that we had to return for the obvious lack of

ankle support. For drop foot they seem great.

[Guest guest]

I agree, in fact the orthotist is actually making an additional brace/device to

provide the ankle support my daughter needs. It is new to me so I don't know

the terminology for the devices. I think she is also getting what is like the

DAFO 4 from Cascade http://www.cascadedafo.com/index.cfm?pageID=2143. They seem

to think the combination of the two devices will help with her gait issues. I'm

concerned about how bulky they will be in her shoes, but we'll see on Monday I

guess.

:}

[Guest guest]

Sherry,

The graphite AFOs are usually custom made so there shouldn't be a

problem getting some to fit your daughter. Make sure they are hinged

at the ankles. That will help her walk better and they will feel

better on her too. I had one pair of unhinged AFOs and they were bad.

The graphite and kevlar AFOs are thinner and stronger than the older

plastic ones. Your dr seems to know what she is doing. Thats great. I

have on kevlar and graphite AFOs on now and they are great.

Bob

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Two of my sons wore the typical AFOs. However for them it seemed to make them

fall more with them than without them. This is just what happened to them.

Everyone is different and hope everything works out for the best.

Heidi - mother of 5 " mother to the world " LOL

[Guest guest]

Thanks !

Our rehab doc also recommended an Allard brace, but I think it was the kiddie

gait model. When I looked at the website, it seemed like the Ypsilon model would

be better for her, but I didn't see it in children's sizes. Maybe that's just

not on the webiste yet. I'm going to follow up too. I'm concerned that a more

restrictive brace might not allow her to use her ankle muscles at all, therefore

weakening them even more. Let me know how it goes with your daughter.

Sherry