Re: Custom AFOs

[Guest guest]

My son's orthotist holds his foot in place. He used to just do measurments, when

my son was younger, but now that he's old enough to hold still, the orthotist

did casts. This has been our first set of AFOs done with the casting, and it

took three fittings to get it right because they were too tight in various

areas. When he just measured didn't haven any of these problems. Ah well.

-Shea

Custom AFOs

Hi All,

I need to get some input on custom AFOs.? Can anyone who wears custom AFOs

tell me if when you get fitted for them if your foot is cast with your foot flat

on the ground or does the orthotist holds your foot in position when casting??

The reason I ask this is because my son needs to get fitted with new AFOs and we

have narrowed it down to two orthotist - each one having a different technique

for casting for AFOs.? My son has worn AFOs made by both, but seems to wear the

ones where his foot is cast with his foot on the floor much better, but this

orthotist doesn't accept our insurance any longer.? The other orthotist tries to

hold the patients foot in position with his hands until the plaster cast sets.?

This position usually creates an arch, but my son has one flat foot but it's a

straight flat foot since he had surgery to correct the cavavorus deformity.??

His other foot will eventually need surgery since it's turning inward but for

now we're giving him a break from additional surgeries since he still recovering

from tc surgery earlier this year.?

As always, thanks in advance for any input you can give.

Kasha

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2008 1:16:29 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

kasha545@... writes:

Can anyone who wears custom AFOs tell me if when you get fitted for them if

your foot is cast with your foot flat on the ground or does the orthotist

holds your foot in position when casting?? The reason I ask this is because my

son needs to get fitted with new AFOs and we have narrowed it down to two

orthotist - each one having a different technique for casting for AFOs.? My son

has worn AFOs made by both, but seems to wear the ones where his foot is cast

with his foot on the floor much better, but this orthotist doesn't accept

our insurance any longer.? The other orthotist tries to hold the patients foot

in position with his hands until the plaster cast sets.? This position usually

creates an arch, but my son has one flat foot but it's a straight flat foot

since he had surgery to correct the cavavorus deformity.??

My son has always had his done by holding the position in place by hand

rather than standing on the floor. An experienced orthotist should be able to

see when the foot is in the plantigrade standing position. That doesn't mean

the other way wouldn't work, just the way ours has always done it and he's

never had a problem in eight years.

Connie

Mom to Sara 17, Nicky 10 (GI issues, megacolon), and 8

(CRS/VACTERLS incl. tethered spinal cord (repaired 9/00, 8/06) perineal

fistula imperforate anus (repaired 5/00, managed with daily Exlax), single

kidney, PDA (closed on its own), malformed pelvis and hemisacrum, long segment

lumbosacral levoscoliosis with hemivertebrae (spinal fusion T11-sacrum 8/06),

extra left rib, genital anomalies with hypospadius (repairs 9/00,11/00,

5/01,12/01,12/03), hypoplastic left leg with clubfoot (repaired 5/01) tibial

torsion

and 4.5cm length discrepancy - wears AFO and 3.5cm lift, SUA, GI reflux,

DGE/gastroparesis, mild swallowing dysphagia, eating issues and the most

beautiful smile ever)

conni60640@...

Our website: _http://members.tripod.com/conni60640-ivil/_

(http://members.tripod.com/conni60640-ivil/)

VACTERL/VATER support _http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VACTERLNetwork/_

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_http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CongenitalScoliosisSupport/_

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[Guest guest]

Kasha,

When I had AFOs, they were one-piece carbon fiber that did not require

casting. (Loved them). When I had KAFO's made, the orthist held my leg and

foot in place until the plaster hardened. Honestly, I preferred the carbon

fiber AFOs and am looking into the same company's KAFOs - they are far

lighter, cooler, less clunky, etc. - to replace the casted, plastic ones I

have now and got over 5 years ago.

Hope this helps.

jenn

From: tetheredspinalcord

[mailto:tetheredspinalcord ] On Behalf Of kasha545@...

Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 1:16 AM

To: tetheredspinalcord

Subject: Custom AFOs

Hi All,

I need to get some input on custom AFOs.? Can anyone who wears custom AFOs

tell me if when you get fitted for them if your foot is cast with your foot

flat on the ground or does the orthotist holds your foot in position when

casting?? The reason I ask this is because my son needs to get fitted with

new AFOs and we have narrowed it down to two orthotist - each one having a

different technique for casting for AFOs.? My son has worn AFOs made by

both, but seems to wear the ones where his foot is cast with his foot on the

floor much better, but this orthotist doesn't accept our insurance any

longer.? The other orthotist tries to hold the patients foot in position

with his hands until the plaster cast sets.? This position usually creates

an arch, but my son has one flat foot but it's a straight flat foot since he

had surgery to correct the cavavorus deformity.?? His other foot will

eventually need surgery since it's turning inward but for now we're giving

him a break from additional surgeries since he still recovering from tc

surgery earlier this year.?

As always, thanks in advance for any input you can give.

Kasha