In this article we shall talk about ankle foot orthoses, when to use them and the different types.
what is an ankle foot orthosis?
Ankle foot orthosis also commonly called an AFO in short is a brace used to support the ankle joint and facilitate close to normal movement of the ankle joint.
The AFO stabilizes the foot and provides a more adequate gait. It is commonly recommended for individuals with muscle imbalances in the foot and leg.
The AFO prevents foot drop in the swing phase and promotes heel strike in the early stance phase of gait.
Its major role is to keep the foot in a neutral position, aids in the foot lifting off the ground, and prevent the foot from dragging while you walk.
what is an ankle foot orthosis made of?
The components of an AFOs are plastic, carbon fiber or metal plus velcro straps. The level of rigidity in an AFO varies based on the need of the individual.
An AFO has a foot support on which you place your foot and a stirrup/s with straps that go around your leg but don’t go above your knee.
Do you need to see a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon?
when to get an AFO
Ankle foot orthoses are used for;
- Substitution for muscle weakness affecting the ankle joint
- Correct the deformities of the foot and ankle
- Provide proper alignment of the foot and ankle.
Who may need an AFOs
These are the conditions in which a person will most likely benefit from using an AFO
- Spinal cord injury,
- Stroke,
- Cerebral palsy
- Foot drop secondary to many causes,
- Muscle dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Peroneal nerve injury,
- Charcort-marie-tooth disease
Ankle foot orthoses can be custom-made or fabricated, ultimately the goal is to give you a gait as normal as possible.
Types of Afos
Ankle foot orthoses are generally divided into 2 major groups which are; the fixed AFO and the articulated AFO.
Fixed Ankle foot orthoses
These eliminate excessive plantar flexion(down-ward motion of the foot) while minimizing excessive extension at the knee joint.
Fixed AFO is synonymous with a solid AFO. These orthoses are fixed with a 90-degree bend at the ankle joint.
Articulated Ankle foot orthoses
These aid in dorsiflexion (upward movement of the foot) keeping the ankle in an acceptable position since they possess a mobile segment while preventing hyperextension at the knee.
They can further be sub-classified into the following;
1. Posterior leaf spring AFO
2. Short leg AFO with fixed hinge
3. Dorsiflexion assist AFO
4.plantar flexion stop AFO
5. Energy return AFO
This AFO reduces some of the energy that the patient expends while pushing the ankle off the ground while walking. In this study, they found a 9.8% reduction in energy expended while walking when the AFO was used.
Tips to getting Foot wear for AFOs
When you wear AFOs, you need a shoe size that is a little bigger than your usual shoes.
- Get shoes that are comfortable
- Buy shoes that are easy to undo, for example, get shoes that you can do up with a zipper instead of shoe laces.
- Get shoes with a color that matches your AFO if you don’t want your AFO to stand out
In conclusion, ankle-foot orthoses do provide stability at the ankle joint, preventing the progression of the deformity and assisting in the correction of gait for individuals with neuromuscular deformities.
