Knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO)
A Knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is a device that supports the knee, ankle and foot. This kind of orthosis is design to stabilize the joints and assist the muscles of the leg. There are many reasons for prescribing such an orthosis but the most frequent are muscle weakness and paralysis of the leg. Patients with Poliomyelitis, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple sclerosis and Spinal cord injury usually have weakness of the leg muscles that can benefit by the use of a custom made KAFO.
Each of the Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFO) we make are carefully crafted to fit the specific requirements of our patients. There are a number of designs available that can be perfectly suited to your individual needs. A meticulous examination and assessment of the particulars of your case will give us the opportunity to suggest the best available component combination.
Metal and Hybrid (Metal and plastic)
There are two very general divisions in the kinds of prosthetics designed today: Metal and metal and plastic. The metal designs are not made out of metal alone in fact only the structure is. The areas in contact with the body are upholstered with leather.
The plastic and metal designs are the most frequently used, in part due to the fact that they are lighter in weight and more pleasing to the eye then their counterparts. These designs include plastic elements custom molded to the patient’s body and metal components on key areas.
Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)
The use of an AFO can be beneficial for the treatment of many ailments afflicting the foot and ankle area. It is commonly prescribed when a condition known as “Foot drop” exists. When it is used for this purpose it can be designed with pre-flexed hinges that keep the toes from dragging when the foot is off the ground, this in turn may reduce the energy used while walking allowing for a more fluid gait pattern.
There are a number of pathologies that can contribute to the development of Foot Drop such as: Diabetes, Peripheral Nerve Trauma, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Poliomyelitis, Spinal Stenosis, etc. Our experience gives us the ability to assess your needs and determine the best course of action to treat your condition.
Ankle-foot orthoses for the treatment of Dropfoot
Drop foot is also known as dropfoot, footdrop and foot drop. It is a term that describes a condition where a person has reduced ability or no ability to raise the foot while walking, causing the toes to drag on the floor. Needless to say, this disorder makes it very difficult to walk and it leads to tripping and instability. The two most common adaptation mechanisms a patient will resort to include “Steppage gait”—the use of the hip muscles to lift the foot—and “Circumduction” which is the action of swinging the leg out in order to clear the ground.
Treatment
An AFO is often prescribed to treat Drop foot. The ultimate goal is to make walking more comfortable and safer for the patient. We can provide several different types of braces; our ultimate choice will depend on the patient’s individual condition.