Re: angle of AFO's
1 plus 1 Orthotics
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: angle of AFO's
Creator:
1 plus 1 Orthotics
Date:
5/14/2000
Text:
To the list
Yes I asked about AFO angles...
To all of you who are stuck on credentials....
Bachelor of physical therapy - Tel Aviv University Israel. 1983
Mastrers Program - Developmental disabilities NYU University U.S.A. 1985
Northwestern orthotics program - graduate 1994
I am a certified orthotist ( and physical therapist) in Israel
As for the background to my question, ( I did not think it was of relevance in
order to get some shared knowledge )
Unfortunately I am up against a big shot here who thinks that all afo/ hafo's
should be made at 90 degrees. Any form of discussion , attempt at reason etc
hasn't helped and I am frustrated as hell .
So I turned to all of you out there hopin g not only for experience bu t more
than that for references, hoping that the latter would somehow convince the
person involved.
Any one care to help now???
As for those that responded without knowing my credentials, ( as if the paper on
the wall determines how good you are... ) Thank you very much. Your responses
were most appreciated.
Vivian Alexander
Certified orthotist
<Email Address Redacted> wrote:
> To the individual who is asking about AFO angles....
> Excuse me for asking, but if you are an orthotist, why don't you know the
> answers to these very basic questions? Where was your education and what is
> your certification?
> The angle of AFOs are determined individually for each client depending on
> the active and or passive range of motion, inervation (sp?) of muscles to the
> lower limbs, and many other factors.
> Specifically, a dropfoot diagnosis may get by just fine w/ a right angle
> AFO, but other factors that need to be included are leg length discrepancies,
> shoe heel heights, knee instabilities, etc. If knee hyperextention is
> problematic, slight dorsiflexion can help, but remember, many clients need
> slight hyperextention to feel safe if they have week quads. Large amounts of
> hyperextention require dorsiflexion, and often in a rigid AFO, or an orthosis
> that directly effects the knee like a KO or KAFO.
> Perhaps you are using prefabricated AFOs only. Most of these are at right
> angles because they are designed to be desirable to the largest group of
> users possible, like many mass produced items. I am unaware of any
> prefabricated AFOs that come in any degree of dorsiflexion, but know of a few
> in slight plantarflexion.
>
> Steve Baum, C.O.
> Rehabilitation Technology and Therapy Center
> 1010 Corporation Way
> Palo Alto, CA 94303
> (650) 237-9217 until June 2,
> (650) 326-7504 starting June 5
> e-mail < <Email Address Redacted> >
>
>
Yes I asked about AFO angles...
To all of you who are stuck on credentials....
Bachelor of physical therapy - Tel Aviv University Israel. 1983
Mastrers Program - Developmental disabilities NYU University U.S.A. 1985
Northwestern orthotics program - graduate 1994
I am a certified orthotist ( and physical therapist) in Israel
As for the background to my question, ( I did not think it was of relevance in
order to get some shared knowledge )
Unfortunately I am up against a big shot here who thinks that all afo/ hafo's
should be made at 90 degrees. Any form of discussion , attempt at reason etc
hasn't helped and I am frustrated as hell .
So I turned to all of you out there hopin g not only for experience bu t more
than that for references, hoping that the latter would somehow convince the
person involved.
Any one care to help now???
As for those that responded without knowing my credentials, ( as if the paper on
the wall determines how good you are... ) Thank you very much. Your responses
were most appreciated.
Vivian Alexander
Certified orthotist
<Email Address Redacted> wrote:
> To the individual who is asking about AFO angles....
> Excuse me for asking, but if you are an orthotist, why don't you know the
> answers to these very basic questions? Where was your education and what is
> your certification?
> The angle of AFOs are determined individually for each client depending on
> the active and or passive range of motion, inervation (sp?) of muscles to the
> lower limbs, and many other factors.
> Specifically, a dropfoot diagnosis may get by just fine w/ a right angle
> AFO, but other factors that need to be included are leg length discrepancies,
> shoe heel heights, knee instabilities, etc. If knee hyperextention is
> problematic, slight dorsiflexion can help, but remember, many clients need
> slight hyperextention to feel safe if they have week quads. Large amounts of
> hyperextention require dorsiflexion, and often in a rigid AFO, or an orthosis
> that directly effects the knee like a KO or KAFO.
> Perhaps you are using prefabricated AFOs only. Most of these are at right
> angles because they are designed to be desirable to the largest group of
> users possible, like many mass produced items. I am unaware of any
> prefabricated AFOs that come in any degree of dorsiflexion, but know of a few
> in slight plantarflexion.
>
> Steve Baum, C.O.
> Rehabilitation Technology and Therapy Center
> 1010 Corporation Way
> Palo Alto, CA 94303
> (650) 237-9217 until June 2,
> (650) 326-7504 starting June 5
> e-mail < <Email Address Redacted> >
>
>
Citation
1 plus 1 Orthotics, “Re: angle of AFO's,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed May 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/214018.
