Getting started with AFOs. Guidance from a pediatric physical therapist.
Many of the patients I work with wear ankle foot orthoses (AFOs). As a physical therapist (PT), I help guide families with those initial stages of wearing bracing. Whenever getting your first AFO or pair of AFOs, it is always important to follow the guidelines given to you by your physical therapist and orthotist. This is some commonly given advice by PTs and orthotists…
Follow the initial wear-time schedule your orthotist or PT gave you. You will most likely start with one to two hours the first day, and then gradually increase the wear time over the course of a week or two. Whenever you take the braces off, check any skin that was covered by the brace, brace sock, and shoe. If you see any redness that does not go away in 20 to 30 minutes, or any redness that does not turn white when you push on it, let your PT or your orthotist know. If you experience any pain, let your PT or orthotist know. They will give you guidance on how to handle this. What to do in this case is very patient specific.
As for socks, I recommend Smartknit socks which you can find on Amazon. You want long socks without seams. If you are having a lot of issues with blisters because of sweaty feet, reach out to your orthotist for special socks for that. He/she might be able to get you some.
As for shoes, that does take some trial and error. New Balance makes a wide shoe which is helpful for bracing. You may need to take an insole out to get the brace to fit in the shoe. Billy makes great shoes for AFOs. You need to order from the DR line of Billy shoes. Those are the ones that are specific to AFOs. And those will come with multiple insoles that you can remove if needed.
Keep your physical therapist and orthotist updated! If you have any questions or run into any issues, let them know right away.
Do you need help problem solving through AFO wear? Or are you trying to figure out if your child needs AFOs? Or are you trying to figure out if your child needs something different than AFOs? Book a free discovery call today! I would love to have the opportunity to help you!