AFOs Patient Views

my AFOs have not replaced my crutches, but they still improved my walking and pain

I wear my AFOs all day. I only take a break on Saturday. They improved my gait for heel to toe and standing endurance. However prior to this past year when I started getting more involved with doctors and therapy I stopped wearing my AFOs in college.

The AFO really helped me with that tbh

I got my first pair of AFOs a year ago as an adult. Never had them as a kid. I cannot get used to them and have not found a ton of benefit for me personally, although my PTs may disagree. I would rather use a wheelchair when navigating longer distances than the AFOs. I feel like I have more mobility and freedom with the wheelchair.

In our case shoe inserts, SMOs and AFOs have been used to bring balance and relax the legs/decrease spasticity levels. My daughter can walk now without them (and her current AFOs are not that great), but walking is just so much easier with them. I honestly can't say which one is a more important aid, her walker or her AFOs. So for us, it's not at all about seeing improvements, it's about making her feel comfortable and confident and preventing pain.

AFOs are great about helping my daughter keep knee through foot alignment, as is the goal. And she tolerates them well. We've seen improvement in her ankle strength and ROM but continue to see issues in her femoral anteversion because the braces only go so far.

I’ve worn AFOs off and on for 40 years. They are one of the reasons I walk and am able to remain walking.

Initially my child wore AFOs more often than not. I noticed he was not moving as much as he did with them off. We made the decision to monitor range and only use the AFOs in his stander and select other times. We continue to reassess AFOs. We recently got Elaine Owen style AFOs and hope to see an improvement with those.

I just started wearing them again after refusing to wear them after 30+ years. With the aging effects on my knees, ankles, spinal cord, and overall gait, AFOs and physical therapy are my best option. It's tough physically and mentally getting used to them, but trying it out.

I’m currently wearing AFOs after many years of not wearing metal braces and then wearing UCBL orthotics. My ankles have gotten very severely over pronated. I’m not a candidate for further surgeries. They help me with keeping me stable and for stamina.