driving while wearing AFOs

[Guest guest]

can you drive a car wearing AFOs? heidi

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

I have found that it's alot harder to apply the break

when wearing my AFOs and they have ankle hinges. I

think it's a good idea for myself to take mine off

while driving just in case i need to slam on the

breaks or something -( my reflexes are really bad as

it is... ) hope this helps !

- Brittney

--- heidic747@... wrote:

> can you drive a car wearing AFOs? heidi

[Guest guest]

I drive in St. Louis rush hour traffic with AFOs. Never a

mishap and I hate to admit it but I'm an aggressive driver.

[Guest guest]

Heidi:

I had a Rehab Engineering department at a local hosital put a knee

accelerator on my right knee. A small plate rests against my right

knee, when I push outward it pushes down on the gas pedal, bring knee

in, van slows down. On my left side I use a hand brake. I have very

good control over the van. My legs are extremely weak below the

knees, can not walk. As long as your knee can bend it should work.

Ask local companies or hospitals who make hand controls for

vehicles. Hope it helps.

[Guest guest]

Heidi:

There is a vast difference in my comfort zone while driving

something that I sit more upright in and only have to press

in more of a straight down motion, such as a van or SUV.

When I drive a car where my leg is more straight out and I

have to press the front of my foot forward it is really

difficult. I have hinged AFOs and I'm not strong enough to

push against the hinged angle of the AFO. We're looking for

a SUV for this very reason. I had such terrible pain in my

ankle and calf on a long trip (about 45 miles) the other day

that I had to pull over and have my son drive the rest of the

way. Luckily he was with me, otherwise I would have had to

sit on the side of the road and rest before continuing which

is not a really good plan these days.

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi,

I wear different braces now and don't drive anymore. After I

rear-ended an 84-year-old woman, I gave it up myself. No one was

hurt?I was going to slow for that. I was pregnant at the time and

wasn?t willing to risk putting my child, or anyone else for that

matter, in harm?s way. It was just time to admit my limitations and

accept them. Even when I did wear hinged AFOs and drove, I couldn't

wear them while driving.

Barb