This is Stavros’ story about how the Step-On ankle-foot-orthoses (AFOs) changed his life. He is a 25 year old man with Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a hereditary disease affecting the peripheral nerves of the legs, leading to weakness, poor sensation, muscle atrophy and other symptoms.
Stavros had been experiencing problems with his walking and balance, resulting in short walking distances and frequent falls, which were affecting his quality of life. After starting to use the Step-On AFOs he noticed an immediate improvement in his walking, which gave him back his independence from walking aids, better stability, stopped his falls and improved his overall quality of life.
Step-On active dynamic AFOs have some unique features, setting them aside from other off-the-shelf AFOs. Firstly, the stiffness of the AFO (which affects the ability to pull the foot and toes up) can be adjusted to the exact gait characteristics of each user and also continue to be adjusted as the user’s needs change over time. Secondly, Step-On AFOs offer an unparalleled range between 22 degrees of dorsiflexion (upwards movement of the foot) and 11 degrees of plantar flexion (downwards movement), which results in improved heel contact at the beginning of a step and better ground clearance to help prevent falls. This range of movement of the AFO also means that users can stand up easier from chairs, walk better up and down slopes, etc. Step-On AFOs have been designed specially and come with thick liners to ensure comfort and avoid high pressure points, which can be detrimental for patients with poor sensation.
If you would like to learn more about the Step-On family of active dynamic AFO’s or any of Brace Orthopaedic’s range of products, please call Customer Services on 0191 258 8944 where Cathryn or Iain would be delighted to help. Alternatively, please visit our website at www.braceorthopaedic.co.uk
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