what kind of AFOs/ I hope this makes sense

[Guest guest]

I asked Adam's orthotist this question when I was there last week. (Thank you

again Gretchen, I love Swiss Balance)

The best kind of a brace is the least restrictive brace that the CMT patient can

get away with safely. Since AFOs cause atrophy, too much bracing will create an

over all weakness of the braced area. The more restrictive the brace the more

atrophy you will have.

I had an orthotist brace Adam up so much that he lost all the muscle he had and

didn't have the ability to grow more muscle because of the brace. Now he has to

be in a overly restrictive brace because of the atrophy he got from being braced

too much. I was told his muscles have become addicted to the brace. The only

solution for Adam is making his braces less and less restrictive over many

years.

I just want to cry sometimes at the damage that was done to him by the bad

orthotist. I wish I would have known better.