Ankle and Foot Braces
AFOs for drop foot and neurological conditions, prescribed and made by our own team.
About ankle and foot braces
An ankle-foot orthosis, or AFO, is a brace that runs from below the knee to under the foot. It holds the foot and ankle in a good position, most often to lift a foot that drops when you walk (foot drop).
We keep a large range of supports and braces for foot and ankle injuries. An AFO can be ready-made (off the shelf), or made to measure for more severe cases. Ours are prescribed and made by our own team.
The sections below explain what an AFO does, then describe the AFOs from Össur and Ottobock and the Aircast walking boots (moon boots) we fit.
Not sure which you need? Phone us on 011 782 7809 to book an assessment, and we’ll work it out with you. Read what happens at your first visit.
What an AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) is
The most common reason for wearing an AFO is foot drop. This is when the muscles that lift the front of the foot are weak or not working, so the toes drag or catch on the ground as you step. People with foot drop often lift the knee higher than normal to clear the foot, which is tiring and makes tripping more likely.
An AFO holds the foot at the right angle to the leg, so the toes clear the ground as the leg swings forward and the heel lands first. It sits inside your shoe and under your trouser leg. Lighter, more flexible AFOs suit people who are active, and firmer ones give more support where the ankle is also unstable.
An AFO is used for:
- Foot drop, including foot drop from damage to the peroneal nerve (the nerve that works the muscles which lift the foot)
- Weakness in the foot and ankle after a stroke
- Conditions that affect the nerves and muscles of the leg, such as multiple sclerosis
- An ankle that is unstable or needs to be held still
We look at how you walk and how strong the foot is, and then recommend a ready-made AFO or make one for you.
Össur AFO Leaf Spring
Suits: foot drop where the muscles that lift the foot are limp
A ready-made AFO in polypropylene, a light, strong plastic, for foot drop where the muscles that lift the foot are limp. A firmer section behind the ankle supports the foot and lifts the toes clear of the ground, and the thin, flexible foot plate can be trimmed to fit your shoe.
It has no heel section, so it is more comfortable to wear and fits better in your shoes.
Ottobock WalkOn® carbon fibre AFOs
Suits: active people who cannot lift the front of the foot well, or at all
Light carbon fibre AFOs for active people whose muscles that lift the front of the foot (dorsiflexion) are weak or paralysed.
The WalkOn® 28U11 gently limits how far the foot drops and points down (plantar flexion), and brings the foot back into position as you step. The carbon fibre makes it light and stable, and it gives back much of the energy of each step.
The WalkOn® Flex 28U22 and the WalkOn® Trimable 28U23 work the same way, and their foot plate can be cut to shape with scissors.
Aircast AirSelect Elite
Suits: fractures of the lower leg and ankle, severe ankle sprains, and recovery after an operation on the ankle or foot
The tall Aircast walking boot (moon boot), which reaches up to just below the knee. Air cells inside are pumped up with a built-in pump, so the boot holds the leg snugly and eases swelling, and the rocker sole helps you walk more naturally.
Aircast SP Walker
Suits: broken toes, and breaks and injuries in the front and middle of the foot
A short walking boot with air cells inside. You pump them up until the boot holds your foot as firmly as you need, so it fits well however swollen the foot is.
It is used for broken toes, for breaks of the metatarsals (the long bones of the foot that lead to the toes), and for other injuries to the front and middle of the foot.
