Evidence-Informed Practices for Individualized Prescription of Ankle-Foot Orthoses

Overview

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are routinely prescribed for individuals with mobility limitations to address a range of impairments and support function and participation in daily activities. 

Designing the optimal AFO-footwear combination for each unique client is a multifaceted challenge. There are numerous options to consider, but limited evidence-based guidance to support decision-making. Physiotherapists may not feel confident contributing to the process due to traditional role expectations or lack of knowledge, yet orthotic intervention can be integral to a client’s mobility goals and intervention plan.

Building on learners’ foundational knowledge of gait and movement, this online physiotherapy course will illustrate a framework for applying key evidence-informed steps for AFO design, evaluation, and optimization of AFO shoes combination alignment to address specific client goals. Implementing these practices may help clinicians maximize the effects of this powerful-- but sometimes controversial-- intervention modality.

One size does not fit all.

Join Dr. Kyra Kane in this on-demand online course 'Evidence-Informed Practices for Individualized Prescription of Ankle Foot Orthoses' which will introduce evidence-informed practices for individualized prescription of ankle-foot orthoses.

Learning objectives

In this online course, you will:

• Apply knowledge of an AFO's direct and indirect mechanical effects to understand and improve individualized prescription decisions
• List common types of AFOs and indications for hinged and solid AFOs
• Illustrate how clinical assessment can guide decisions about AFO type (e.g., solid vs hinged AFO) and features (e.g., the ankle angle in the AFO)
• Identify practical steps for evaluating and optimizing the AFO-footwear combination to address a client’s biomechanical goals