You have demonstrated that you are confident in donning your child’s orthosis correctly. Correctly putting on your child’s orthosis is the most important key to ensuring that it will be comfortable and function as it is intended. Anyone who puts the orthosis on your child should be able to demonstrate that they can do it correctly before given that responsibility.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION:

Articulating AFOs are intended to provide control and guidance to the patient’s lower leg, ankle and foot, in order to maintain better positioning for standing, stepping and/or maintaining ideal position of the bones, joints and soft tissues.

INSTRUCTIONS:

When you put on the Articulating Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO, do the following:

• Have your child seated or lying on their back with their knee and hip flexed. This position brings their knee toward their chest. This will help to relax their muscle tone and take stress off of tight muscles. Place your child’s foot into the orthosis while keeping their leg and hip flexed.

• Make sure that you have the RIGHT FOOT padding with the RIGHT AFO and the LEFT FOOT padding with the LEFT AFO. Set aside the padding and open the orthosis to “scoop” the child’s foot into the orthosis. Have your child rest their foot against your knee or the edge of a chair with their knee towards their chest. This will help relax tight or spastic muscles while pushing their knee down into the orthosis. Carefully tuck the padding into the orthosis ensuring that the padding does not fold over.

• The padding should fit exactly into the cavity where they were formed during fabrication. Pull the Velcro closure snug on top of the foot first. This is critical for seating the heel into the orthosis. Then pull each end of the elastic strap until they meet in the back.

• Ensure the heel is seated by looking through the peek hole. The heel should be tight against the plastic around the peek hole. If there is any space, tighten the straps and check again. Please call our office if you are unable to get or hold the heel all the way back into the orthosis.

• Pull extra sock out in the toe area make sure the toes have room to move and are not cramped. Make sure that there are not any wrinkles under the strap areas on the orthosis as well.

• Check your child’s feet periodically (every 2 to 3 hours) for the first couple of days and as needed thereafter to make sure that there are no problems. Please call our office if your child develops any pressure areas or red marks that last longer than 20 minutes to ½ hour.

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. There is risk that a fracture in the material could create sharp edges 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.

HELPFUL TIPS

Shoes must always be worn with the orthosis. (Athletic lace up shoes work best).
The insole must be removed.

A thin, snug fitting sock with a heel works best. (Acrylic or polyester blends work well.)

The orthosis can be washed out with soap and water upon need. Allow it to air dry.

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

Call us immediately if you have any problems or questions 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 primary care physician regarding any health changes or concerns.