Suggestions for Afo's

Hi L.,

Our daughter wears a full length AFO on her left foot (just below knee) and a short DAFO (ankle) on her right foot. If your son is new to wearing these AFO's, you should check for any redness or irritation after wearing them for a short time. They may need to be adjusted, which isn't unusual. A couple of suggestions for socks/shoes, which may help with the heat problem - we buy special AFO socks/shoes from the attached link. www.keepingpace.com The socks are great as they wick moisture away and the shoes (boy and girl styles) have some venting/netting on them for breathability. They are designed for AFO's (not bad looking either) as they are made deeper to accomodate the AFO/DAFO's. You can also remove some of the inner soles to aid in comfort. Hope this helps.

Yvonne

Hi. Can he explain to you where they hurt? Is there any redness, especially over any bony prominences, after wearing them? It's really important that they fit properly for many reasons. Have you talked to his orthotist? And the hotness factor - that's what happens when you encase a body part in plastic, sorry. I haven't ever found a good solution but I hope you do. take care

Make sure the socks are not all cotton which will make him sweat more. During the summer I found teva-like shoes from stride rite that adjust at the heel and in front. With white socks and a white brace they are hardly noticable and his feet weren't so hot during the summertime. A great shoe for AFOs is from www.keepingpace.com

Hi L., I teach a classroom of children with severe special needs. All of the kids in my class have AFO's and a multitude of other aparatus. I have a very close relationship with the orthotist, he comes right to my room to cast the kids and make any accomodations. New AFO's to put it bluntly -- stink!! Your son's skin will have to toughen to the areas that get soar and reddened. How we help the students in my class is we start them at wearing the AFO for only a short amount of time. 1/2 hour the first day, and continue to slowly increase the time increments daily until he can handle wearing them for the day. After you take them off each day during the break-in period, check his skin for any red "pressure" marks. these will occur and should fade within 15 minutes of taking the brace off. Get yourself a bottle of rubbing alchol, give the red areas a good swabbing, each day, this too should help to "toughen" the skin. and maybe a few xtra treats for your son the more he is able to tollerate the new afo's. As for the heat they create, try to find a thinner sock, but don't ever let him wear them "sockless" -- that would definatly cause skin breakdowns. Good luck , L. C.

I would suggest that you take him to the orthotist that made the braces and discuss the issues with him. Your son is old enough to talk to the orthotist himself and describe the problems. AFO's should not hurt. As for being too hot. Sometimes they can drill "air conditioning" holes in the AFO, but you might also try a different kind of sock. 100% cotton socks are not good for wearing under AFO's as they do not wick moisture but hold on to it. If you have a good orthotist he or she should be more than willing to work with you and your son to make the braces fit well and be tolerated. Good luck.

Can he use a thick sock underneath to absorb the pressure and the sweat? Perhaps there are better socks than others that allow the foot to breath? Also, it says that a break-in period is suggested to get used to it and to gradually increase the wear time each day (one to two hours at a time, a few times a day for the first week) may help him get more used to it. Good luck.

Hi, My son has worn afo's for many many years, and still does. Have you tried putting a stocking under them? The brace shop where the afo's were made usually are willing to give you a few and they are specifically designed for the braces. Have them drill vent holes also. . But if they really hurt his feet, check the areas he hurts, look for reddness and pressure marks. Then see how long they take to go away. if they stay for more than a few seconds or a minute after you take the afo's off, then maybe it is a sign to call the shop and have an appointment to get them flared or re-adjusted. hope this helps. feel free to email about any more questions. I have a 21 yr old with cerebral palsy and we have been through just about everything. Is He a shriner patient? They are wonderful and very knowledgeable about all thos things. and their care is never billed to your insurances. It is all free. My son has been a patient since he was 3 and now he is 21. Good luck.
ps i also have the name of an awesome shoe company that designs sneakers for afo's.....www.keepingpace.com

Hi - I highly suggest you contact the person/company who made the AFO's. You do not mention why he got them. If you need a second opinion, Dr. Thomas Vorderer at Childrens Hospital in Boston or Waltham is excellent. My daughter goes to him for orthotics.
A., Physical Therapist, MetroWest

Yes, please go back to the physical therapist or orthopedist who fit your son and tell them that the afos hurt. Adjustments can be made.

Hello L.
My daughter has afos as well and since its starting to get warm i use old nylons...I know it is weird but you cut just the foot part off and use them instead of socks and its airy and their feet can breath and you can see them really...

They shoudl not hurt, call the foot place where you had them done and go back..they can adjust and work with him. Use lighter socks and see aobut taking the insole out of his shoes..we get larger shoes so they fit in better. How old is your son?. My son is also a Preemie.

He may not like them and this coudl be his concern too.

Do you use Next Step in Manchester? they are great. My son has SMOS (they go to the lower ankle) and he has to wear them until'he stops growing' he is 5 and has had them for 2 years.

they really will help him, I fell off curbs and could not ride a bike w/o training wheels until I was 10..no one wants that!! lol