I became aware of the benefit of using AFO’s many months ago when I began seeing some of Cedar’s cyber peers sporting theirs. AFO is the acronym given for ankle-foot orthosis. This is a custom device intended to support and control the motion and positioning of the ankle. It is also meant to compensate for weakness and can help with hypotonia. AFOs can be used to support weak limbs as children begin learning to pull up and walk. I began researching and I learned that using orthotics for ankle and foot stability greatly benefits the ability of a child with hypotonia to stabilize for standing, walking and stamina. So how do you get your child AFO orthotics?
Let me tell you, I have heard horror stories, and stories of there being minimal to no effort on the parent’s part, ours was a lovely mix of the both but hopefully I can share some tips that may make the next mama’s journey a bit easier.
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You need a prescription
Usually there is a discussion between your child’s physical therapist, pediatrician and other members of you child’s care team to determine what type of bracing, if any, would be beneficial for your child.
*NOTE* sometimes you may need an orthopedic doctor to write the prescription depending on the company/orthotist you go with. Insurance also plays a HUGE role here and often orthotics first go towards an out of pocket deductible and require pre-approval.
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You need to find a durable medical equipment company/orthotist that your insurance covers
This can be easier said than done, especially if there are limited choices in your area.
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You will need an initial appointment/fitting
During this appointment you will either just see the orthotist for a brief evaluation or you will be evaluated and fitted for the orthotics chosen as appropriate for your child. Depending on the type of orthotics, the orthotist will take detailed measurements or possibly cast your child’s feet/ankles to get the custom size for your child.
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You will have a follow up appointment to be sure the orthotics fit properly
This video clip shows Cedar hamming it up during this appointment. For us it took about 3 weeks from the initial fitting appointment to get to the second appointment where we received the orthotics.
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Give your child time to get used to the new braces
We have been using the braces for a few hours a day to get Cedar used to the feeling on his feet. We also diligently check his feet and ankles after each wear to make sure that he is not developing any sores/blisters from wearing the braces. If your child develops any issues be sure to go back to the orthotist and work with them to adjust as needed.
RELATED POST: What are SMO’s and AFO’s?
After going through this process and having an initial appointment with an orthotist that was nothing short of a nightmare I am here to share that you may well have to be your own best advocate. Depending on your insurance, out of pocket deductible and may other factors these can cost from a few hundred to $1000 give or take. This advocating may occur when it comes to working with your insurance company, your child’s therapists, and even the orthotist you choose. Just know that at the end of the process you may find yourself a bit spent but hopefully with the orthotics in hand.
What was your experience with AFO’s?
What is the difference of using something like this vs some shoes to help? Right now kurt is standing but does do some weird positioning of his feet and ankle but therapist just says to try shoes.
I would ask your pediatrician as well as physical therapists as you do need a prescription. These are custom made and molded to the exact shape of the foot so they are a bit more technical than shoes and do offer a bit more stability than say, high top shoes. They are working well for Cedar but it was a process to get them.