Ankle foot orthosis for children
Fitting
Your child should sit in front of you with their hip and knee bent. You should make sure that they have long socks that cover the area of their leg which the AFO touches. Pull the sock up high and make sure there are no wrinkles in them.
Turn your child's foot towards the middle be-fore turning the foot up. This means the big toe should be the highest of the toes.
While placing your child’s foot into the AFO hold the above position until you locate their heel in the back of the AFO. Once this is achieved fasten the retaining ankle strap snugly so the heel cannot move.
Check that your child's heel is still located in the heel area by lifting up their toes and looking under the foot. You should see the sock and heel still in location without any gaps.
Finally fasten the remaining straps. The calf strap does not have to be on tight. You should be able to put your finger down in-between the strap and your child's legs. Your Orthotist will show you how to fasten any ad-additional straps.
Put on your child's shoe. The AFO should not be worn without a shoe/ boot.
Red marks
It is normal to see red marks from pressure on their skin for at least 15-20 minutes after taking the AFO off. They should disappear within this time. If the marks are still there and/ or look deep, red, bistering/sores—stop wearing the AFO and contact your orthotic department for advice.
If the heel/foot is not in the AFO correctly this will cause red marks. Please check you are managing to get the AFO on correctly. If your child has grown this can also leave red marks as their bones are not sitting in the relief areas made for them at the manufacturing stage.
Wearing regime
This will be individual to each patient. Please follow the instructions given by your orthotist. Upon initial wear of AFO, you may experience some aching in your knees, hips, thighs, lower legs, back or soles of your feet. We advise ‘breaking in’ of your AFO, in order to gradually build up your tolerance as follows.
|
Date |
Length of Time Insoles should be worn |
|---|---|
|
Day 1 |
Up to 1hour/ Until starts to ache. |
|
Day 2 |
1-2 hours / Until starts to ache. |
|
Day 3 |
2-3 hours / Until starts to ache. |
|
Day 4 |
3-4 hours / Until starts to ache. |
|
Day 5 |
4-5 hours / Until starts to ache. |
Maintenance
Use a wet damp cloth to wipe down the plastic aspect of the AFO. Fluff and hair can be removed from the Velcro straps by picking them off or by a small wire brush.
Any joints should be cleaned regularly using a dry toothbrush or similar to remove dirt and dust etc.Look after the AFO and return it to the orthotic department for any repairs. You should never attempt to modify or adjust it yourself.
Footwear
Always take the AFO with you when buying foot-wear to insure it fits. Lace ups and velcro are the best style of shoes as they give more adjustments and improves fit
If you have issues with finding footwear please speak to your orthotist for advice.