AFO's, braces don't know anything about them?

[Guest guest]

Ellie just started PT at a specialty hospital and the first thing the

therapist wanted to do was fit her for braces. I had suspected she

would need them. I don't know anything about AFO's. ARe there any

good sites on them? Are there any precautions I should know about.

She said she will need it too just below her knee.

Thank you,

L

[Guest guest]

has AFO's, and has had no trouble at all with them...

the major thing was the adjustment period, he had to wear them for 20

minutes a day, and increase it 20 minutes more every day...

He only wears them once in a while now, when he needs them (weakness),

but we got him up to full time in about a month...

They have helped alot with his walking, and are a huge help when hes

particularily weak...

not much help here, but we had a positive experience!

Keely

>

> Ellie just started PT at a specialty hospital and the first thing

the

> therapist wanted to do was fit her for braces. I had suspected she

> would need them. I don't know anything about AFO's. ARe there any

> good sites on them? Are there any precautions I should know about.

> She said she will need it too just below her knee.

> Thank you,

> L

[Guest guest]

I don't know any websites, sorry there. But the one thing I can

advise you on is to not buy new shoes until she is fitted for her

braces. She may need bigger shoes and wider shoes. Also we always

remove the insert on all of Wy's shoes. It gives him more room and he

doesn't need the insert since the brace does that. Also they do sell

socks to wear under the braces, but I have found Gap socks to wrok

really well. We buy the trouser kind and they are long enough to be

folded over the top of the braces. The only other thing I can tell you

is that they will cast her feet and then cut the cast off. They use

that to then make the braces. It takes about 20 minutes to do that.

Then you come back in two weeks for a final fitting. Depending on how

busy they are and how well they were made from the casts, it could

take up to 2 hours to do the final fitting.

Wy was just casted today for a new pair of AFO's. If you have any

other questions, feel free to e-mail me.

Geri-Anne and Wyatt, Complex I

caringbridge.org/mn/wyattc

>

> Ellie just started PT at a specialty hospital and the first thing the

> therapist wanted to do was fit her for braces. I had suspected she

> would need them. I don't know anything about AFO's. ARe there any

> good sites on them? Are there any precautions I should know about.

> She said she will need it too just below her knee.

> Thank you,

> L

[Guest guest]

My daughter Amber has had AFO's for some time now and has no real issues. I do suggest that you buy shoes after you get them in order to get a proper fit. I have found that Stride Rite shoes are to be perfect. They are wider and the soles sit solid on the ground making it much easier to walk. I also get velco type shoes to assure that they aren't too tight on the top of the foot. You might want to put the braces on her for brief periods of time so that she can get used to them. Because Amber had fat feet, sometimes the AFO's would rub her a little the wrong way. I'm sure you will be very happy with Ellie's results once she gets used to wearing them. It offers them just the support they need--good luck!ikeleclaire wrote:

Ellie just started PT at a specialty hospital and the first thing the therapist wanted to do was fit her for braces. I had suspected she would need them. I don't know anything about AFO's. ARe there any good sites on them? Are there any precautions I should know about. She said she will need it too just below her knee.Thank you, LPlease contact mito-owner with any problems or questions. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

-There are all sorts of AFOs. has had them for a couple of years. Don't

buy

new shoes until you have the braces. needs extra wides a couple of sizes

bigger

than her feet. They are more comfortable with knee socks (if you have braces

that go

to the knee). Girls dress knee socks are thinner than boys' socks.

has DAFO #2. You get to pick out the color of foam they use and get to

pick out

the ribbons you get to use. I'd ask about shoe inserts too. They are nice to use

when

you don't put on the AFOs.

Also, if a red spot stays on the skin for more than 20 minutes after wearing the

brace,

don't put the brace on again until it is readjusted. Our originally was to

wear

them only in her sleep. But she moved around too much during sleep and got red

spots (early ulcers) so she wears them for a few hours a day. They really help

prevent

her leg pain.