An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is a brace that’s made to support the ankle and foot, helping to improve joint alignment and stability. When a patient wears an AFO, their movement is restricted in specific directions to assist with muscle weakness, mobility, and protecting the foot and leg from injury.
AFOs are often used to treat walking disorders caused by a variety of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, including severe ankle arthritis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and drop foot—where the patient has difficulty lifting the front part of their foot. The skilled podiatrist, Dr. Benjamin Weaver, at Central Kansas Podiatry Associates discusses the potential benefits of an AFO.
Benefits of an AFO
Your podiatrist may prescribe an AFO for a variety of injuries and conditions. A brace, made to fit your foot, ankle, or lower leg, may provide assistance with the following:
- Support. An AFO can help support your foot and ankle, as well as help provide stability for your knee.
- Movement control. An AFO can often help control your foot and/or leg movement and reduce pain.
- Improved walking. An AFO can help improve your ability to walk and reduce the risk of falling.
- Deformity prevention. An AFO can help prevent and correct foot and ankle deformities.
If you’re a person with muscle weakness, high muscle tone, joint instability, foot deformities or fractures, a spinal cord injury, or peripheral nerve damage, you may benefit from an AFO.
Think Twice Before Buying Over-the-Counter AFOs
You can purchase over-the-counter AFOs at most drugstores. While they might be less expensive, and buying them at a local store is more convenient, there are a variety of reasons you should buy custom-made AFOs, including the following:
- Over-the-counter AFOs are made to fit a standard foot. However, every human foot is unique, and your AFO should specifically address the structure of yours. Custom orthotics are molded to your foot specifications, so you’ll never have to force your feet into an insert that may not be right for your foot type or condition.
- A podiatrist will factor in your particular lifestyle—the sports you play and the activities you enjoy—when having your AFO custom-made. By doing this, Dr. Weaver will determine if you need functional or accommodative orthotics. If you use a store-bought AFO, you risk wearing the wrong type of foot support materials and incorrect sizing.
- Store-bought AFOs can be ineffective, but they can also make foot conditions worse. Thus, you’re at a greater risk of additional foot problems and possibly developing alignment abnormalities in another part of your body.
AFOs: How We Meet Your Specific Needs
Dr. Weaver partners with Mile High Orthotics Lab (MHOL) in Colorado to design and manufacture your AFOs. MHOL The success of MHOL can be found in its use of leading-edge technology for its products and establishing solid client relationships. MHOL uses high-tech software to measure, design, and construct its orthotic devices for Dr. Weaver’s patients, including custom AFOs, custom foot orthotics, custom shoes, and prefab orthotics. Dr. Weaver then makes sure your device fits exactly as specified, providing you with the foot, ankle, and/or leg support you need.
Night Splints Can Help Alleviate Morning Heel Pain and Stiffness
Some people wake up in the morning and take their first steps in pain. This is especially true for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. If you wear a night splint while you sleep, it gently stretches your calf and foot muscles.
Night Splint for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia—the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel to the toes. When you wear a night splint for this condition, that splint prevents the tissue from tightening up overnight—a reason patients feel sharp heel pain when they take their first steps in the morning. In general, the splint keeps your foot in a flexed position and applies constant tension on the plantar fascia, which can reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Night Splint for the Achilles Tendon
The Achilles tendon is the biggest tendon in the body. It connects the calf muscle in the legs to the base of the heel and is made up of collagen fibers that are wound together like a rope. This tendon can store and release energy during movements like running and walking. Tendinitis is the acute inflammation of that tendon; tendinopathy occurs when the tendon starts to degenerate as a result of chronic injury in the tendon over time. If you experience an Achilles rupture, the tendon splits in half or separates from the heel bone.
Some therapies don’t always work to help heal injuries to the Achilles tendon, so your podiatrist may suggest that you wear a night splint. This can help relieve pain and relieve tension and strain that patients unknowingly put on their feet when they sleep. Treating problems with your Achilles tendon with a night splint is a common way to possibly avoid surgery.
At Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, we offer prefabricated night splints to help improve your joint mobility and the severity and pain of your symptoms. We offer night splints that feature soft, breathable liners to enhance comfort while you sleep. If your plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendon issues are most severe in the morning, Dr. Weaver will help you determine if a night splint is right for you. Because night splints help reduce the increased load on your foot pain while you sleep, many patients find that with consistent use, their morning pain decreases,
The majority of patients who use night splints report a significant reduction in morning soreness or the unpleasant stabbing sensation with the first few steps in the morning.