Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)

AFOs are the most frequently prescribed orthoses. The goal is to control ankle–foot position through the gait cycle: lift the toes in swing so the patient does not trip, and control foot lowering at heel strike.

A thermoformed posterior-leaf design suits a simple, flexible foot drop. When there is spasticity or multi-plane instability, an articulated design lets us set precise angle stops while keeping some physiological motion.

For patients who tend to buckle the knee under load, a ground-reaction design creates a knee-extension moment through an anterior shin shell, improving standing stability and reducing fatigue.

Every AFO is moulded from a 3D scan, padded over bony landmarks and trialled inside the patient's real shoe. Children are reviewed every 4–6 months to replace the brace as they grow.