Braceworks specializes in orthotic care for children with special needs.
Helping people lead active lives in Calgary, Alberta since 1989.
Ankle Foot Orthotics
Personalizing your orthotics with colour and pattern makes a positive statement. This is undoubtedly the most important factor for kids and, well, bigger kids. That's why it's first on the list.
Instructions for Wearing Your Brace
Children who wear AFOs should wear them during the day as they would their shoes. While walking barefoot after a bath or in the evening can do no harm, you might consider having the child wear them at night, even while sleeping, for stretching particularly tight muscles. Download Wear & Care Guide for Your Brace (152K PDF).
Even though their posture and walking may have improved, children may feel uncomfortable wearing the brace during the initial adjustment period, (usually a few weeks after they first receive their brace). During this period, encourage your child to wear their brace as much as possible to become acquainted with it. After this period, the brace will stop feeling unnatural and will begin to feel quite comfortable. However, if the child continues to complain about the AFO, it should be carefully checked, and adjustments may be required.
How do I apply and tighten my child's brace?
1. Hold the foot at or beyond 90 degrees
2. Place the foot firmly into the heel pocket of the AFO
3. Secure the ankle strap
4. Secure the shin strap
5. Fit the shoe over the AFO
6. Prevent skin problems from occurring with your new brace by following a "wearing" schedule.
7. Always check your child's foot and lower leg for any areas of redness when you remove your brace.
8. Notify your Orthotist if dark red areas do not go away after 20 minutes.
9. Adjust your AFO by loosening the Velcro straps if you notice redness or if your AFO feels uncomfortable.
How tight should the brace be?
The heel should be securely held in the brace with no "give" or movement. Wear your brace as tightly as possible. A loose brace will cause rubbing and lead to skin problems.
Protecting Your Skin
It is very important to prevent skin breakdown (i.e. sore, dark red skin). The skin under the brace needs to be toughened up, especially where the brace presses the hardest. Apply rubbing alcohol with your hands to the area. Alcohol plus the friction of your hand to your body will toughen the skin. Continue this procedure only until your skin toughens (usually about 2 to 3 weeks after you start wearing the brace).
Pay special attention to pink areas of the skin where your brace presses the most. The pink color should disappear within 30 minutes of removing the brace. If the skin remains pink longer than 30 minutes, adjustments may be required. The use of cornstarch (a dusting) may be helpful in hot weather, or on skin sensitive to alcohol. Do not use creams, lotions, or powder under the brace initially because they tend to soften the skin and can lead to skin breakdown. If there is skin breakdown (sore, red, raw skin), the brace must not be reapplied until the skin heals. This usually takes several days. If this happens, call Braceworks to make an appointment to double-check the fit of the brace.
Bathe or shower daily. Always wear a cotton sock without seams under your brace. Some of our patients recommend socks made of Pima cotton or Gard cotton. They minimize wrinkles and extend the full length of the brace. This eliminates bruising caused by seams.
What are the best socks to wear with AFOs?
Choose knee high socks that fit smoothly conforming to the foot and providing protection from pressure, bunching, binding and tightness. Avoid products with inside seams or irritating ridges that can lead to skin breakdown. Soft combed cotton with stretch are comfortable. You'll find products for Preschool aged children at Gap for Kids. Wal-mart and Zellers offer a good selection of socks for older children.
A schedule for wearing your brace
Brace wearing is a gradual buildup of time per day in your brace. It will generally take a week until you wear your brace full-time or up to the length of a normal school day.
The following program is designed to help your skin and muscles adjust to having the brace on:
Day 1: Wear your brace up for two hours on followed by one hour off for a total wearing time of 6 hours per day.
Day 2: Increase wear to a total of 8 hours per day. Put the brace on for 4 hours. Remove the brace, check your skin, and rub with alcohol. If your skin is just pink, re-apply the brace for 4 hours. Repeat up to a total of 8 hours wearing time. Remove and check your skin. Try to increase the time you wear the brace each day.
Day 3: Wear the brace for a total of up to 12 hours daily. Apply the brace for 4 hours, take the brace off and check your skin and rub with alcohol. Put the brace back on.
How can I tell when my child is outgrowing the AFO?
The earliest warning signs that your child is outgrowing their AFO include their complaints of pain or red marks are beginning to appear where they haven't previously been seen. Other signs include toes extending beyond the end of the foot of the AFO. Call Braceworks to make an appointment so that your Orthotist can determine if the brace can be adjusted or a new one is required.
Caring for your brace
Your brace can and should be cleaned frequently. You can use soap and water to clean it daily. Once each week, wipe your brace down with rubbing alcohol. Straps will wear over time and need to be replaced. Please contact Braceworks to have straps replaced.
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