At your child’s fitting appointment you have demonstrated that you are confident in donning the Rooster Boot correctly. You have also been instructed with the care of your child’s Rooster Boot.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION:

RoosterBoots are a type of custom AFO, designed to provide an adjustable, dynamic stretch to the triceps surae (Achilles tendon and calf muscles) in order to obtain and maintain improved range of motion (ROM). They are designed to hold the bones and joints of your child’s feet and ankles into a neutral position while stretching the musculature up to a maximum of 16 to 20 degrees of dorsiflexion. All caregivers are given an adjustment tool which allows them to increase or decrease the amount of stretching tension in order to achieve patient comfort and the beneficial stretch.

RoosterBoots are made with soling so that children can do limited, indoor standing and ambulation when needed while wearing the RoosterBoots.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Have your child seated or laying on their back with their knee and hip flexed. This is with the knee towards the chest. Make sure the joint on the Rooster boot is locked and holding the orthosis at a 90 degree angle(not flexed forward into dorsiflexion).

• Make sure you have the RIGHT tongue with the RIGHT orthosis and LEFT tongue with the LEFT orthosis.

• Place your child’s foot into the orthosis while keeping his/her knee up towards the chest. Place the tongue in the cavity where it was made, making sure that it is not folded. Pull the Velcro closures snug across the top of the foot and above the ankle.

• Disengage the joint and ensure that your child’s heel is seated by looking through the peek hole. If there is a space between the padding and the heel, repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 making sure to remove any slack from the straps.

• Pull extra sock out toward the toes and up toward the knees to remove any wrinkles and make sure the toes have room to move and are not cramped by a tight sock.

• Check your child’s Rooster Boot while they are sleeping to be sure they are getting a stretch. Improvement in Range of Motion can be a slow process and will vary with each patient. The key is to insure that the joint is set high enough to create as much stretch as possible while still keeping the child comfortable and able to sleep.

• You were given an adjustment tool for the Rooster Boot at your child’s fitting appointment. The tension can be turned up or down depending on what is needed and tolerated. The tension on the Rooster Boot joint should not be increased by more than one number per week to insure that your child is tolerating the changes.

Call our office immediately if any of the following occur:
• You are unable to get or hold your child’s heel seated into the orthosis.
• You are unsure if your have your child’s Rooster Boot adjusted properly.
• You have any other questions or concerns regarding your child’s orthotic treatment.
• You have adjusted the orthoses as far as you can and your child is still not in the fully dorsiflexed position while sleeping.
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POTENTIAL RISKS AND PRECAUTIONS:

All orthoses should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that the structural integrity of the materials and components are withstanding the rigors of daily use. With any orthotic device there is potential for material or component failure, depending on wear and tear. There is risk that a fracture in the material could create sharp edges causing injury or a loss of function of the orthosis. Failure of components could lead to improper joint controls, loss of balance and potential for falls or injury. For these reasons, it is very important for caregivers to inspect each orthosis on a regular basis and report any safety concerns to Pediatric Orthotic Specialists immediately.

Nighttime dynamic stretching orthoses provide a force across the ankle or knee joint to help increase range of motion for your child. Your orthotist explained how to increase the tension on the orthoses as well as how frequently the tension should be increased for your child. Due to the additional force being applied across the joint, careful attention should be given to your child’s skin to ensure they are not experiencing sores or pain resulting from the dynamic stretch applied by the orthosis. If your child is communicating pain or shows signs of increased pressure areas, please decrease the tension and contact the office for a follow up appointment.

HELPFUL TIPS:

The Rooster Boot should be kept clean -wash out with a damp rag with soap and water as needed. Allow to air dry.

The Rooster Boot is not made for walking and should only be worn during down time. The soling that we put on is intended to be used only if your child gets up during the night.

A thin, sock with a heel works best.

If the Velcro wears out, contact us and we can replace it.

Call us immediately if you have any questions or concerns regarding the orthotics.
Grand Rapids office (616) 956-5556

In case of an after hours emergency, please contact:
Andy Rolewicz cell – 217-454-0839
Kevin Soules cell – (517) 262-1089

Contact your child’s PCP regarding any health changes or concerns.