Ankle Foot Orthosis for Adults (AFO)

The purpose of an AFO is to help position the foot, maintain muscle length and aid standing and walking. It does this by assisting or resisting certain movements.

To put the AFO on:

• Bend your knee up
• Slot your heel all the way into the back of the AFO. If your foot tends to twist inward or outward you may need help to position this straight before sliding into the AFO.
• Ensure your heel is down firmly before fastening the ankle strap (if present) and then the calf strap.
• Put on a suitable shoe or boot. Often wiggling the shoe side to side makes it easier to don.

Never walk in a splint without shoes on as the plastic on the bottom can be very slippery.

Some people prefer to put the AFO in the shoe first then use it like a shoe horn to help get the AFO and shoe on together, this is fine as long as you can get your heel down properly, can still fasten the straps and find this method comfortable.

We recommend long socks to absorb perspiration and reduce risk of rubbing. Plain cotton socks with no pattern are ideal.

Whether this is the first or a replacement AFO you should build up the wear time gradually. If possible, wear for short periods, but often throughout the day to begin with. Unless otherwise advised most people should be able to build up to wearing the AFO through the day (off in bed) after around a week. Any skin rubs or red marks should fade after 20 minutes of removing the orthosis. If they do not fade please contact Orthotics for a review appointment and leave the orthosis off if safe to do so.

Look for footwear with:

• a fastening that can be adjusted rather than slip ons
• a wider and deeper fitting
• a base insole that can be removed to free up space for the AFO
• a lower opening where the tongue can be opened right down to ease donning
• a small heel rather than completely flat

Many people find success with high street footwear with the suggested design features. They do not necessarily have to be an expensive pair, many have got on well with supermarket trainers or common brands like Skechers, Nike, Adidas etc. Should none of these be suitable then these alternatives may help:

Friendly Shoes www.friendlyshoes.co.uk

Wider Fit Shoes www.widerfitshoes.co.uk

FitVille https://thefitville.uk/

If you have difficulty finding suitable footwear please speak to your Orthotist.

AFOs can be cleaned with a damp cloth and towel dried. Please do not use heat as this may distort its shape. Do not soak the brace or use any harsh cleaning agents on it.

Your brace is either custom-made or adjusted for your use only. Please do not adjust it or fit it to anyone else.

If the AFO fits well and only requires new straps or pads please wear your spare or contact for a spare to be supplied. Put the worn AFO in a bag with a note of your name and address inside. On the outside of the bag address it to “Orthotics BGH” then hand the bag into your local NHS Borders GP practice. Once repaired the AFO will normally be sent back to your GP practice and you will be notified when it is ready for collection. 

Useful links

NHS Foot Drop www.nhs.uk/conditions/foot-drop/

Capability Scotland www.capability.scot

Cerebral palsy Scotland cerebralpalsyscotland.org.uk

MS Society www.mssociety.org.uk

Stroke Association www.stroke.org.uk

Scottish Disability Sport www.scottishdisabilitysport.com

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback. If you need advice or are concerned about any aspect of care or treatment please speak to a member of staff.