Would AFO's help

[Barry52]

CMT 1A ,have very bad knee Hyper extension,I wear a brace but still have falls due to the knee,would AFO's help in any way with regards my stability

[Hidden]

not sure if afo's will help. mine only come up to my calf and don't support my knees. i,ve never heard of any that can do that but maybe i,m wrong. hope you find what your looking for soon.

[Barry52]

THANKS

[bev5985]

i think you will need knee braces rather than afos to support your needs i wore them for a few years util i had knee replacement surgery on both knees

[Barry52 in reply to bev5985]

Did it help?????????????

[bev5985]

Yes they did for a few yiears until got really bad I had my first knee replacement 7 years ago and 2nd last Dece and they have not been very successful unfortunately but yeh the knee braces do give you some stability if you get the right ones you need the ones with the metal down the side. I would add however that they are quite uncomfortable to wear at first

[John1945]

Hello to Barry52>>>>

Hyperextension of the knee is a condition where the back of your knee joint opens too widely, allowing the tibia (shinbone) to slip backwards, beyond its normal limit.

Treatment for knee hyperextension depends on which ligaments or other knee structures are damaged and, if so, the severity of the damage.

For mild cases, time and conservative treatment will usually be sufficient, with recovery taking only a few weeks. For more severe injuries surgery may be necessary, in which case your orthopedic surgeon will discuss all the available options with you.

I suspect that an "LIGHTWEIGHT RIGID POLYPROPELENE, ANKLE FOOT ORTHOTIC (AFO) devices would "NOT" be suitable for your knee(s) hyperextension problems:

Myself and, and my son and daughter, all have "RIGID" lower limbs AFO's:

I personally have been wearing AFO's since 1998: In the early days these devices were simply made from normal 'plastercasts', which resulted in them being far too heavy, and a very short term life:

However, as Orthotics became a recognised branch of the NHS, many more clever orthotists, designed, and developed much more lightweight AFO's:

Nowadays, an orthotist will place a "zip" tape from your shin bone to your middle toe: Then they then apply a normal plastercast from your big toe, to 'wrap-around' around your ankle, and it covers your calf's muscles to just below your knees joints:

A fews minutes later, this "zip" cast is then cut down its centre, and is removed just before it begins to set, leaving the orthotist with "moulded-shells":

It is then sent off to an external 'specialist' contractor, who will create, and mould a "RIGID" lightweight orthotic "splint, which is usually made from lightwight polypropyolene materials, in which you place your lower leg(s) into, and secure it by 2No, Velcro straps, 1No, across your ankle, and also 1No. BELOW your knee joint:

If you then order normal EEEE "extra-wide" shoes ONE-SIZE larger, you feet will be able to slip into the AFO, and then into your normal shoes ?

You may also wish to firstly put a "lightweight" stocking on first, then the fit your AFO, which will assist, and pervent any "chaffing" of your lower leg(s), and absorb any sweat problems:

Therefore, request your GP to refer you back to an Orthotic Specialist clinic within your local NHS area, as I would advise you to seek professional help, before taking this matter further:

Also have a look online at the magnificent services provided by Buchanan Orthotics, in Ibrox Glasow: They do NHS work(s), but also offer you, a large range of orthotic devices, and full availabilty if you choose to go private:

I am lucky that my health authorit, NHS Lanarkshire uses this company to manufacture their 'bespoke' orthotic devices, and they also offer you unbelievingly, a selection of colours to choose from ?

Their current catalogue will make most interesting reading!

Best of health !

John.....(Glasgow)

[Barry52]

Thanks once again very informative

[Barry52]

Been fitted with a cracking knee brace knee hyper extension much improved,time to be patient and get used to it