AFOs and driving

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about driving with different types of AFOs. I am trying to go

back to work now that my children are older, and I do home health due to the

flexibility and not having to walk so far like in a facility. I originally was

given leaf spring AFOs and they were horrible to drive in, so after 5 years of

agony, I was given articulating ones which are awesome for driving.

Now voc rehab thought that I would be better off with Toe Offs since they are

light weight and low profile, etc. They sound very comfy! But the prosthetist

says that I will be right back to wearing myself out trying to push the gas

pedal.

They are also suggesting SMOs (short- just above the ankle) to prevent ankle

rollovers on my stronger days.

Anyone with experience? Don't want to turn down the Toe Off's if they would be

good to drive with.

Thanks,

Mandy

[Guest guest]

Mandy:

Toe-Off AFOs allow some flexing of the ankle. The flex allows better balance as

the ankle can signal the knee to flex when needed by a bad step. I think they

are the best products on the market -- a opinion that has a universe of one. Me.

I think that using a toe-off on the accelerator would be very fatiguing. There

would be a constant 'fight' with the appliance to make the small adjustments

needed on the accelerator.

The toe-off works fine for breaking if you are used to two-foot breaking. I did

just that for years.

One issue you need to understand is that as your right leg becomes fatigued,

proprioception becomes an issue. I remember I had to look down to see where my

right foot was on long trips. It sounds bizarre, but as I tired I just didn't

know. I was a one-foot driver having driven standard shift cars for many years.

When CMT entered my life I knew I needed to move to an automatic. Habit still

made be a one-foot driver.

If I was still driving I would use a hand controlled accelerator and foot

operated brakes. I am no longer driving as I can't get an Italian license

without knowing the language, and wearing hearing aids in both ears, I can't

hear Italian diphthongs well enough to learn. During a hearing test, the

examiner masked his lips behind a piece of paper, and I couldn't even discern

English diphthongs vey well! Unknowingly I became dependent on lip reading --

more that I knew.

So -- hand controls for the gas and good old leg power for the brakes.

Regards.

Larry

[Guest guest]

I have the same AFOs as Larry - I drive in them but kind of hard.

Kim