Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs)
Draft — clinical review requiredAn ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) crosses the ankle and foot to control ankle motion during walking.
Foot clearance
Toes may catch in swing when the ankle cannot dorsiflex.
Mechanism: The orthosis resists plantarflexion during swing.Ankle position at contact
Flat or toes-first contact is possible.
Mechanism: The design resists foot drop before contact.Tibial progression
Tibia advances freely or is limited by tone.
Mechanism: Stiffness and alignment determine how much the tibia can move over the foot.Knee behaviour
Depends on ankle and muscle control.
Mechanism: Changing ankle motion alters the ground reaction force line relative to the knee.Qualitative only — possible changes, not predicted angles or effectiveness. Stiffness, alignment, footwear, available range, strength and motor control all influence the response.
Go deeper
Open each part when you are ready.
Where it sits
- Along the lower leg and under the foot, worn inside a shoe.
Joints crossed
- Ankle and foot (and influences the knee indirectly).
Movements it may allow, resist or constrain
- Depending on design: blocks, resists or assists ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.
Intended functional goals
- Foot clearance in swing.
- Stability in stance.
- Influence tibial progression and knee behaviour.
Potential applications
- Foot drop, stroke, cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions — after assessment.
Limitations, tradeoffs and precautions
- Can limit push-off and adaptability on slopes.
- Skin pressure; requires suitable footwear.
Individual assessment and fitting
- Ankle range, tone, strength, sensation, footwear and goals.
- Response depends on stiffness, alignment, footwear, available range, strength and motor control. No device produces the same result in every patient.
What additional information would you need before considering this device?
- Range of motion at the ankle, knee and hip.
- Strength and motor control.
- Tone and spasticity.
- Sensation and skin integrity.
- Footwear, goals, cognition and ability to don/doff.
- Who will review fit and response over time.
Apply it
Why can an AFO influence the knee?
Sources and review status
Draft — clinical review required
Starting points for verification. Validated protocols are linked where available; clinical content has not yet been reviewed.
Learning objectives
- Identify where a Ankle-foot orthoses sits and which joints it crosses.
- Explain which movements it may allow, resist or constrain.
- List factors that require individual assessment and fitting.