​An Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) is an orthotic device designed to support, control or assist the movement of the foot and ankle.

AFOs can be used for a wide range of conditions where weakness, instability or difficulty controlling the foot and ankle is affecting walking or other activities.

At MK Orthotics in Milton Keynes, AFOs are individually assessed and prescribed according to your movement, strength, symptoms, footwear and functional needs.

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What does an AFO do?

An AFO can be designed to help with different aspects of foot and ankle function.

Depending on the design, an AFO may help to:

• Support a weak ankle

• Improve foot clearance during walking

• Assist dorsiflexion

• Control unwanted foot and ankle movement

• Improve stability

• Help position the foot more effectively

• Reduce the risk of the foot catching the ground

• Improve walking efficiency

• Support the lower limb during weight bearing

There is no single AFO that is right for everyone.

The design needs to reflect the reason an AFO is being prescribed and how you move.

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Who may benefit from an AFO?

AFOs may be appropriate for people with conditions that affect foot and ankle control.

These can include:

• Foot drop

• Dorsiflexion weakness

• Peroneal nerve injury

• Stroke

• Multiple sclerosis

• Cerebral palsy

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

• Other neurological conditions

• Muscle weakness

• Some forms of ankle instability

• Difficulty controlling the foot during walking

An AFO may also be considered following injury or surgery where additional support or control is required.

Whether an AFO is appropriate depends on the individual assessment.

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What is foot drop?

Foot drop describes difficulty lifting the front of the foot during walking.

The foot may appear to slap down onto the ground, or a person may lift the knee higher than usual to prevent the toes from catching.

People with foot drop may notice:

• Their toes catching on the ground

• Increased tripping

• Difficulty walking on uneven surfaces

• A high-stepping walking pattern

• Foot slapping

• Difficulty lifting the foot

• Reduced confidence when walking

Foot drop can have a number of causes, including nerve injury and neurological conditions.

An AFO may help by assisting the foot into a more appropriate position during walking.

 

Different types of AFO

AFOs come in many different designs.

Some are worn inside the shoe, while others sit around the outside of the footwear.

Some are relatively flexible and allow a degree of ankle movement, while others provide greater control.

The appropriate design depends on factors such as:

• Muscle strength

• Range of movement

• Spasticity

• Foot and ankle position

• Knee control

• Walking pattern

• Activity level

• Footwear

• The underlying condition

• Your personal goals

The aim is not simply to provide as much support as possible.

The aim is to provide the appropriate amount and type of support for your individual needs.

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TurboMed XTERN AFOs

MK Orthotics also provides access to the TurboMed XTERN range of external AFOs, which are designed primarily for people with foot drop and dorsiflexion weakness.

Unlike a conventional AFO worn inside the shoe, the XTERN is positioned externally on the outside of the footwear.

The design uses an exoskeleton spring to assist dorsiflexion while allowing plantarflexion. TurboMed describes the XTERN as a dynamic AFO designed to allow walking, running and other activities while avoiding direct skin contact with the foot and ankle.

The current XTERN range includes the:

• XTERN Classic+

• XTERN Frontier

• XTERN Summit

The different models have been developed with different functional requirements in mind.

 

Find out more about TurboMed

See our dedicated TurboMed XTERN page for more information about the range and whether an external AFO may be suitable for you.

 

Your AFO assessment at MK Orthotics

An AFO needs to be assessed as part of the whole lower limb rather than simply selected from a catalogue.

Your assessment may include:

• Your medical and orthotic history

• Your walking difficulties

• Muscle strength

• Range of movement

• Foot and ankle position

• Knee control

• Lower-limb alignment

• Balance

• Functional movement

• Walking analysis

• Footwear assessment

• Existing orthoses

• Your normal activities

• Your personal goals

Video gait analysis may also be used to examine how your foot and lower limb behave during walking and, where appropriate, running.

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Choosing the right footwear

Footwear is particularly important when prescribing an AFO.

The device needs to work with the shoes you actually use.

Depending on the AFO, factors such as:

• Shoe opening

• Heel height

• Shoe depth

• Sole stiffness

• Fastening method

• Available internal space

• Stability of the footwear

may all be relevant.

This is one reason why it is useful to bring your usual footwear to an assessment where possible.

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Can an AFO be used for sport?

Some AFO designs are intended to allow a greater level of activity than others.

The answer depends on your strength, control, condition, footwear and the design of the AFO.

The TurboMed XTERN range, for example, is specifically designed around dynamic movement and is marketed for activities including walking, running and hiking.

However, suitability for an individual should always be assessed rather than assumed from the product description.

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What if I have used an AFO before?

Bring your existing AFO to your appointment if possible.

It can be useful to assess:

• Why it was prescribed

• How it fits

• What it was designed to achieve

• Whether you can use it comfortably

• Which shoes you use with it

• Whether it improves your walking

• What problems you have experienced

Sometimes the issue is not simply the AFO itself. Footwear, muscle strength, joint movement or changes in your condition may also need to be considered.

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AFOs in Milton Keynes

At MK Orthotics, we take an individual approach to orthotic treatment.

We assess the person, not simply the diagnosis, and consider what type of support is likely to be appropriate for your particular movement pattern and goals.

AFOs are prescribed following assessment and may be bespoke or selected from appropriate specialist systems depending on your requirements.

MK Orthotics is based in Blakelands, Milton Keynes.

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Book an AFO assessment

If foot drop, weakness or ankle instability is affecting your walking or activities, an assessment can help determine what type of orthotic support may be appropriate.

Initial assessment with video gait analysis — approximately 90 minutes.

MK Orthotics, Blakelands, Milton Keynes.

​Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) & Foot Drop | Milton Keynes

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Book an Appointment