Re: AFOs work muscles to prevent footdrop?

[Guest guest]

Hi Rob,

My Dr. told me that while AFOs are very necessary for some, wearing AFOs can

actually make your muscles atrophy more since the AFOs keep the muscles from

working.  BUT, as I said before, some people cannot walk at all without them,

so they should continue to use them.

Karon

AFOs work muscles to prevent footdrop?

-

If you wear AFOs often do they make your feet look a little more normal (i.e.

decrease the foot arch, anything else)?

I'm in college, and I can walk without AFOs but I'll trip up probably

at least once a day without them. I'll fall outside maybe once every

few weeks (very embarassing/annoying). A doctor who recommended AFOs to me said

that AFOs have been proven to work muscles that improve foot drop.

I wasn't sure about that, but what I really need to know and can't

figure out is: will my legs get weaker if I wear AFOs more often? Will

it be more difficult to walk without them if I wear AFOs more? or the

opposite?

AFOs might help work the muscles that I need WHEN using them, but might make the

muscles I use for my foot drop weaker/unused. Anyone that can shed some light,

it would be greatl

y appreciated

-Rob

[Guest guest]

Rob:

Well, AFOs work your muscles to work correctly because they are supported to do

so. If you do not use the AFO(s) then your muscles stay limp. It is like a

wheel of a car or bicycle, if your wheel does not have something to hold it in

place it will just wobble around and eventually fall to the ground. I don't

know about the increase in strength for foot drop. I only wear AFOs when I am

outside the home which is usually just over the weekend or when I go out with my

husband. I use a motor chair when I am home since I need it to take care of my

baby son. When I wear AFOs I feel like a new person actually. I have all the

strength to stand for a longer perfiod of time and walk too. The ground feels

more grounded also...you don't feel like you are on your tippy toes, just

leveled land. AFOs actually strengthen your thigh muscles because your ankle

and foot are in the right position while wearing them. AFOs for someone with a

foot arch have an extended platic piece for the bottom of the foot or feet. My

left foot has a foot drop. I have noticed over the 11 years I've been wearing

AFOs is that I am walking more correctly because I have to force myself to put

my ankle down first then the palm of the foot. Since I do not use AFOs on a

daily basis I have been able to transfer with no problems, but I do have bars to

hold onto. I have been able to pivot, turn, and even llift my heal off a little

while pivoting to transfer too. The only problem I've had with AFOs is the pain

that comes from the foot or the feet, not because of the AFO directly. I think

the pain is just from the pressure of wearing socks, AFO, and a shoe at the same

time for long periods. So I relax the foot by just taking off the shoe for a

period of time and the pain disappears. Another way to increase your foot

muscle strength is by exercising them by doing arch lifts with your feet . You

can do this while typing an essay on the computer.

Well, I hope the best for you. Take care.

[Guest guest]

Karon,

I agree 100 % with your doctor. My son has obvious atrophy from AFOS. I have a

muller ankle brace from the sporting good store that I use if I need to do a lot

of walking. After I take that little brace off I feel a weakness. Having said

all that my son has to wear AFOs just to walk. We gotta do what we gotta do.