RUNNING WITH AN AFO

RUNNING WITH AN AFO

Beth Deloria

4/17/2006

To anyone in the OandP profession with experience helping athletes with
AFOs:

I'm currently looking for anyone who can help me qualify for the Boston
Marathon again--but this time I'll have to do it wearing an AFO. I am a
39-year old female with a combination of late-discovered birth defects
(spina bifida occulta, spondylolisthesis, conjoined nerve roots and
other spinal abnormalities) which led to ruptured discs and spinal
fusion surgeries 18 months ago. I now have permanent foot drop and was
told after testing that I am not a candidate for nerve transfer surgery
(I think due to the conjoined nerve roots). I was a runner before my
surgeries and would love to be able to qualify for Boston one more time
before hanging up the running shoes. Under my neurosurgeon's
supervision I have been slowly increasing my mileage and feel
terrific--except for pain, blisters and hot-spots on my foot caused by
running with my AFO. I alternate my rigid AFO with an articulating AFO
but both are extremely clunky and do not lend themselves to comfortable
running. I have to wear a larger running shoe on my left foot to
accomodate the brace, but even with that the fit is poor. I recently
completed a half-marathon and am actually quite close to the finishing
times I posted before my injuries--the only thing stopping me from
stepping up the training and entering a qualifying full marathon is the
foot pain. Is there a less primitive orthotic that works well for
runners? Maybe a shoe and brace all-in-one? No combination of orthotic,
padding, moleskin, callus cushions, socks or shoes has worked for me
yet; I continue to get new blisters in places that didn't blister weeks
ago and the sharp pain in the ball of my foot is present with almost
every stride. The only product I've read about that may be an
alternative to my AFO is something called Dorsi-straps but I'm not
sure if these would provide the support that I need for serious
training. I can't find any advice on these besides the manufacturer's
encouragement to send a money order to try them so I'm quite skeptical
about these. I can't help thinking that my problem isn't unique, and
yet I can't seem to find a professional with a solution. My current
prosthetists (Bio-Tech in Greensboro, NC) have tirelessly helped to
modify my AFOs but I think things have reached the as good as it gets
point with regard to the athletic lifestyle I'm trying to regain. If
anyone can help me I would be EXTREMELY appreciative--any and all
suggestions are welcome!!

Thank you,
Beth Deloria, AFO wearer and 2002, 2003 Boston Marathoner
 
Beth Deloria
Account Manager
ELS Marketing & Design
ph: 336.294.0850 x.14
<Email Address Redacted>