http://www.insightful-products.com
In this episode of Foot of the Week, Insightful demonstrates how our drop foot technology can provide better treatment by providing more accurate traction on the calf. If the portion of the AFO (called the calf section) is moving either medially or laterally off the leg, the drop foot AFO brace can be adjusted using a longer tensor that comes with the ankle brace. By simply installing the longer tensor on the side of the brace that is opposite the direction the brace needs to be tilted, you can shift the portion of the AFO in the direction needed. For example, if a left foot AFO is coming off medially (or coming off towards the middle), then swap the long tensor on the medial side to shift it towards the lateral side. If the left foot brace is coming off the calf laterally (or towards the outside of the leg), then install the longer tensor on the lateral side to push the calf section medially. The opposite if true for a Right foot AFO.
Archive for the ‘Foot of the Week’ Category
Foot of the Week – Episode 26 – Drop foot technology
Posted: September 21, 2012 in AFO, ankle brace, Custom Ankle Braces, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the Week, Medial Instability, Off the Shelf Ankle BracesTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, Drop Foot, drop foot AFO, drop foot technology, foot drop, foot drop brace
Foot of the Week – Episode 25 – Best Post Tib Brace
Posted: April 9, 2012 in AFO, ankle brace, Casting, Custom Ankle Braces, Foot of the Week, PTTD Ankle BracesTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, Brace, brace casting, casting for AFO, casting for custom AFO, casting for custom ankle brace, casting for custom braces, custom AFO, Custom ankle brace, Post tib tendon, Post tibial tendonitis, Posterior tibial
In this video blog, we discuss the importance of casting the post tib patient’s foot and ankle in a neutral position. If the cast is taken in a full weight bearing position, it can be difficult to provide the needed correction to the AFO or custom ankle brace for posterior tibial tendonitis.
Foot of the Week – Episode 24 – Best Drop Foot Brace
Posted: January 24, 2012 in AFO, ankle brace, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the Week, Off the Shelf Ankle BracesTags: active, AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, Drop Foot, drop foot AFO, Drop foot brace, drop foot treatment, foot drop, foot drop brace, foot drop drop foot brace, tennis
In this week’s vblog, we take you to an indoor tennis facility where one of our drop foot patients happily wears, what she calls, the best drop foot brace on the market. With the Step-Smart brace for drop foot, she is able to play tennis and live an active life. See her play tennis in this video.
Foot of the Week – Episode 23 – Post Tib Brace Evolution
Posted: January 11, 2012 in AFO, ankle brace, Custom Ankle Braces, Foot of the Week, Medial Instability, PTTD Ankle BracesTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, Custom ankle brace, Post tib, Post tib tendon, post tibial, Posterior tibial, PTTD
In this “Foot of the Week” episode, we talk about the evolution of the medial malleolar window in our custom brace design for post tib or posterior tibial tendonitis (PTTD or PTD). The Blaze MI brace includes a relief for the medial malleolus called a window, and since its orgination, the shapes have changed. Now the brace even includes a relief or window for the navicular or any other prominent bone of the foot. This provide the required support while also providing the needed space and “give” when pressures and pain are high.
Foot of the Week – Episode 22 – AFO brace donning
Posted: December 29, 2011 in AFO, ankle brace, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the Week, Shoe DonningTags: AFO brace, ankle brace, Arizona AFO, Brace, Drop Foot, drop foot AFO, Drop foot brace, foot drop brace
In this episode, a patient shows us his unique method for donning the Step-Smart AFO brace for drop foot. In most instances, Insightful suggests attaching the AFO brace into the shoe first and donning the shoe brace combination at once. In this example, the patient finds it easier to don the AFO brace first and then he slides the foot brace combination into the shoe.
Foot of the Week – Episode 21 – Hiking with Drop Foot
Posted: December 6, 2011 in AFO, ankle brace, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the WeekTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, Brace, Custom ankle braces, Drop Foot, drop foot AFO, Drop foot brace, drop foot gait, drop foot treatment, foot drop, foot drop brace, foot drop drop foot brace, orthoses
http://www.insightful-products.com/buy-afo.html
In this week’s vblog, we speak to a drop foot patient who uses the Step-Smart brace to go hiking.
Foot of the Week – Episode 20 – Fitting AFO in Shoe
Posted: November 22, 2011 in AFO, ankle brace, Custom Ankle Braces, Foot of the Week, Footwear, PTTD Ankle BracesTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, custom AFO, Drop foot brace, hammertoes, orthoses, podiatry, Post tib tendon, post tibial, Post tibial tendonitis, Posterior tibial, PTTD, relief
In this week’s video blog, we have a guest appearance by Diana Bean, granddaughter of LL Bean, who happens to wear Insightful’s Blaze MI brace for post tib (posterior tibial tendonitis). She had some pain in her toe caused by a condition called hammertoes. This condition is not addressed by the Blaze brace, but provided us an opportunity to show how shoes often need adjustment in order to relieve pain and discomfort. In this particular situation, the shoe needed to be marked in the area creating the pressure so that the orthotist could remove some material from the shoe thereby creating more space for the problematic toe. Often times when pressure or irritation is a problem, people incorrectly think that adding padding is the answer. The solution is actually the reverse of what most people might think. Rather than adding more padding or cushioning to the area of the foot and ankle, the answer is to remove material from the shoe or ankle brace, creating the required space. This is called a “relief” for the prominent area of the foot and ankle. This is a practice commonly used in AFO’s or ankle foot orthoses but also is commonly needed in shoe fitting.
Foot of the Week – Episode 19 – Drop foot Case study
Posted: November 14, 2011 in AFO, ankle brace, Custom Ankle Braces, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the WeekTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, custom AFO, Custom ankle brace, Custom ankle braces, Drop Foot, drop foot AFO, Drop foot brace, drop foot gait, drop foot treatment, foot drop, foot drop brace, foot drop drop foot brace, orthosis
In this week’s episode, we visit a local foot and ankle doctor to help fit a bilateral pair of AFO’s or ankle braces. This particular case involves a patient with foot drop or drop foot in one leg and lateral ankle instability in the other. The solution for the inversion problem was the Cuboid Lock design used for the lateral ankle problem and the Step-Smart for the Foot drop problem. The Step-Smart also provides lateral support to control inversion and will help prevent the ankle from rolling over.
Foot of the Week – Episode 18 – Toe Off
Posted: October 20, 2011 in AFO, ankle brace, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the Week, Gait AnalysisTags: AFO, ankle brace, Brace, carbon fiber, carbon fiber brace, casting for custom ankle brace, Drop Foot, Drop foot brace, foot drop brace, noodle, toe up, toeup, video
In this week’s video blog, we compare the differences between braces designed for toe off and braces designed for drop foot. Braces designed for toe off are supposed to help in gait with plantarflexion, not dorsiflexion. Braces designed for drop foot or foot drop are supposed to help in gait with dorsiflexion, or lifting the foot up and not pushing off with weak toes. Some of these toe off brace designs do give clearance at swing phase, allowing the toes to clear the ground while swinging the leg forward, but most do not help with shock absorption at heel strike. A key component to any good drop foot brace is the ability to slow the foot down at heel strike thereby preventing foot slap while also not restricting plantarflexion too much. The reality is that most of these toe off designs are not strong enough to assist in toe off. As seen in this video, the brace bends almost beyond its limit at about 15 lbs and most people weigh between 120 and 200 lbs. Even though the toe off is made of carbon fiber or mostly carbon fiber, the designs we have looked at can not handle weight over 100lbs and therefore the toe off benefit claimed is worthless in our opinion.
Foot of the Week – Episode 17 – Drop Foot AFO Comparison and testimonial
Posted: September 30, 2011 in AFO, ankle brace, drop foot, Drop Foot Brace, Foot of the Week, Gait Analysis, Off the Shelf Ankle BracesTags: AFO, ankle brace, ankle braces, Brace, braces, Dorsi-strap, Drop Foot, drop foot AFO, Drop foot brace, drop foot gait, drop foot treatment, foot drop, foot drop brace, foot up, freedom walk, orthoses, video
http://www.insightful-products.com/buy-afo.html
In this video episode of “Foot of the Week”, we talk to a drop foot patient who has been using the dorsi-strap or x-strap (similar to the freedom walk, Foot up, or steady strider). We compare this drop foot treatment to the Step-Smart brace and demonstrate how the Step-Smart provides superior shock absorption at heel strike and also provides lateral support for better drop foot gait. Foot drop often causes falls resulting from an ankle rollover. Our drop foot gait analysis shows that without the ability to dorsiflex, the ankle is more susceptible to lateral instability. The lateral side of the foot or the outside of the foot can catch on an edge and rollover. Also, if the dropped foot lands on uneven ground, a rollover is difficult to prevent without ankle support. The drop foot patient also provides a testimonial in his owns words describing his experience and fear of falling. The Step-Smart is the best drop foot brace and dropfoot braces on the market.
