04/23/2019
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1
From: Dennis Shavelson, DPM
There is a new fall prevention system on the marketplace that has many benefits over the standard heavy and cumbersome AFOs that fit inside the shoe with a foot plate, and needs to be accommodated with oversized shoes. The system combines the use of an external ankle foot orthotic (E-AFO) that exists outside instead of inside the shoe coupled with a restorative custom foot orthotic (RCFO) cast in optimal functional position.
The lightweight E-AFOs and RCFOs offer increased forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, and ankle stability, symmetry, support, and balance, while reducing sway and perturbation in stance and when moving about. In addition, the ankle position can be free to move or bolted tight in any position on the sagittal plane, as needed. Two obvious drawbacks are that RCFOs are not covered by Medicare and E-AFO are not covered for three-five years if an AFO has already been dispensed under Medicare.
Disclosure: I am a consultant for and national distributor of an E-AFO manufacturer.
Dennis Shavelson, DPM, NY, NY
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1
From: Dennis Shavelson, DPM
There is a new fall prevention system on the marketplace that has many benefits over the standard heavy and cumbersome AFOs that fit inside the shoe with a foot plate, and needs to be accommodated with oversized shoes. The system combines the use of an external ankle foot orthotic (E-AFO) that exists outside instead of inside the shoe coupled with a restorative custom foot orthotic (RCFO) cast in optimal functional position.
The lightweight E-AFOs and RCFOs offer increased forefoot, midfoot, rearfoot, and ankle stability, symmetry, support, and balance, while reducing sway and perturbation in stance and when moving about. In addition, the ankle position can be free to move or bolted tight in any position on the sagittal plane, as needed. Two obvious drawbacks are that RCFOs are not covered by Medicare and E-AFO are not covered for three-five years if an AFO has already been dispensed under Medicare.
Disclosure: I am a consultant for and national distributor of an E-AFO manufacturer.
Dennis Shavelson, DPM, NY, NY