ANKLE-FOOT ORTHOSES (AFOs) are a commonly prescribed lower limb orthoses customised to each individual to support your foot, ankle and leg. AFOs are used to manage a variety of lower limb conditions such as joint instability, high muscle tone and muscle weakness and are designed to control alignment, increase mobility and independence, assist in rehabilitation, help reduce pain as well prevent deformities from occurring.
At Massons, we are highly experienced in both traditional AFO management (using high temperature thermoplastics or metal uprights and bands) as well as pre-preg AFO management for our patients.
For the past 10 years, Massons have been using pre-preg carbon for custom made AFOs and KAFOs to provide a light weight, thin, energy returning orthotic option for our patients.
Originating from the automobile and aviation industries, pre-preg carbon fibre is becoming widely recognised as a superb material in orthopaedics due to its excellent physical characteristics, elevating the final product to the currently unsurpassable level of functionality, durability and comfort providing maximum assistance for the patient for longer.
The advantages of custom-made pre-preg carbon fibre orthoses are remarkable including:
Today our custom-made carbon fibre orthoses are well-known because of their quality with the whole range of lower limb orthoses available in pre-preg: FOs (Foot Orthosis), AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis), KOs (Knee Orthosis), and complicated KAFOs (Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis).
All orthoses are fully individualised and customised based on the measurements, scans or mould captured by our clinicians which are then imported into CAD/CAM systems for modelling and milled by a CNC 3-axis machine. This modern technology reduces the orthotic delivery time and ensures a highly attractively finish that requires real craftsmanship.
Traditional AFOs are made using metal uprights with a leather covered band or from high temperature thermoplastic. We know some of our AFO clients have worn AFOs for years and become used to a particular style of bracing which works for them.
At Massons, we have over 20 years of experience in AFO management so we understand your requests and needs. Please contact us on (03) 9898 0011 to discuss your management needs further.
IMPORTANT: If you have never walked in an AFO before, we advise you to adhere to this plan in order to maintain your safety and for you to ease into the AFO to help build your confidence.
We encourage all patients to adhere to these protocols in order to ensure that they are safe and that the AFO is achieving their intended prescription aims. Non-compliance with these protocols may lead to complications such as skin breakdown or falls.