[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-565486-105":53,"doc-detail-565486-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":120,"head_meta":122,"extra_data":124,"updated_unix":126},105,"en","afo-types-and-considerations","AFO Types and Considerations","","This document summarizes common ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) types and compares their clinical benefits and limitations. It organizes key design considerations that affect dorsiflexion in swing, ankle motion restriction, stance-phase knee control, balance, and gait speed. For each AFO category (solid/rigid, ground reaction, semirigid, posterior leaf spring, articulating, and dynamic), it lists advantages, constraints that may limit success, and typical design features and examples. It also highlights impacts on spasticity and ankle PROM.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/afo-types-and-considerations/565486/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/afo-types-and-considerations/565486.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"jayni","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-25","2026-10-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"What are the main benefits of solid or rigid AFOs?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"Solid or rigid AFOs provide rigid ankle support to influence knee control. Benefits include increased stance-phase knee flexion/extension control, reduced equinovarus in stance, improved static balance, and potential ankle control depending on PF spasticity.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"How does a Ground Reaction AFO improve knee stability during gait?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"A Ground Reaction AFO provides knee stability through an anterior-posteriorly directed force on the proximal tibia. It supports strong stance-phase knee flexion control and can increase static balance, with effects that depend on added shoe features such as a soft heel or rocker sole.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What key considerations affect the success of semirigid and posterior leaf spring AFOs?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"Semirigid AFO success depends on how design choices restrict or allow ankle motion, including trimline placement and material flexibility. Posterior leaf spring AFOs offer flexibility that can improve gait speed, but may reduce strength/control and dynamic balance, and provide minimal mediolateral ankle support while having minimal effects at the knee.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},565486,1792111394,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":76,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":9},3985747859343,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","| AFO TYPES AND CONSIDERATIONS |  |  |  |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| AFO/Description | Benefits | Considerations that May Limit Success | Key AFO Design Considerations | Examples |  |\n| Solid or Rigid\u003Cbr>Provides rigid support of ankle in desired position that has implications for knee control | o ↑ DF in swing\u003Cbr>o Adjustability of stiffness by changing trimlines\u003Cbr>o ↑ stance phase knee flexion or extension by restricting ankle motion\u003Cbr>o ↓ equinovarus in stance\u003Cbr>o Possible ankle control with PF spasticity\u003Cbr>o ↑ static balance | o Desire to allow volitional muscle activation\u003Cbr>o ↓ ankle PROM\u003Cbr>o Bulk & weight of AFO\u003Cbr>o Desire for allowing ankle DF during functional mobility | o Material strength provides ↑ motion restriction & ankle control\u003Cbr>o ↑ AFO stiffness may lead to ↑ knee flexion at IC\u003Cbr>o Anterior trimlines ↑ ankle control & AFO rigidity\u003Cbr>o AFO set in DF leads to knee flexion in stance\u003Cbr>o AFO set in PF leads to knee extension in stance\u003Cbr>o ↑ AFO stiffness may ↑ knee flexion at IC | | Solid AFO\u003Cbr>o Anterior trimlines\u003Cbr>o Thicker materials\u003Cbr>o Fixed at ankle in slight PF, neutral, or DF based on control needed |\n| Ground Reaction\u003Cbr>Provides knee stability through aposteriorly directed force on the proximal tibia | o ↑ DF in swing\u003Cbr>o Strong stance phase knee flexion control\u003Cbr>o Possible↑ gait speed if a soft heel or rocker sole is added to the shoe\u003Cbr>o ↑ static balance | o Genu recurvatum\u003Cbr>o Strong hyperextension thrust in stance\u003Cbr>o Quadriceps spasticity\u003Cbr>o Bulk & weight of AFO | o Anterior proximal contact of AFO leads to stance phase knee extension\u003Cbr>o ↑ AFO stiffness may ↑ knee flexion at IC\u003Cbr>o AFO set in PF leads to knee extension in stance | | Ground Reaction AFO\u003Cbr>o Fixed at ankle in slight PF\u003Cbr>o Anterior shell for added tibial control\u003Cbr>o Carbon or plastic options |\n| Semirigid\u003Cbr>Provides varying degrees of rigidity based on design & materials used | o ↑ DF in swing\u003Cbr>o Adjustability of stiffness by changing trimlines\u003Cbr>o ↑ stance phase knee flexion or extension by limiting ankle motion\u003Cbr>o ↑ gait speed if AFO has fewer restrictions to movement\u003Cbr>o May ↑ dynamic balance based on design | o PF spasticity (≥MAS 3)\u003Cbr>o ↓ strength or control of the\u003Cbr>ankle or knee muscles\u003Cbr>o Equinovarus | o Material property choices restrict or allow motion\u003Cbr>o AFO set in DF leads to knee flexion in stance\u003Cbr>o AFO set in PF leads to knee extension in stance\u003Cbr>o Anterior trimlines ↑ ankle control & AFO rigidity\u003Cbr>o Posterior trimlines ↓ ankle control & AFO rigidity | | Semirigid AFO\u003Cbr>o More posterior trimlines\u003Cbr>o Ankle in slight PF, neutral, or DF based on control needed\u003Cbr>o Some ankle motion allowed based on material thickness and flexibility |\n\n[www. neuropt.org](www. neuropt.org)  \nCopyright Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, printed in Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy: April 2021-Volume 45 – Issue 2 – p112-196 ANPT Knowledge Translation Task Force: Elizabeth Cornforth, PT, DPT, NCS; Bobbette Miller, DPT, NCS; Therese Johnston, PT, PhD; Lisa Brown, PT, DPT, NCS; Andrea Ecsedy, PT, DPT, NCS; Megan Greenwood, PT, DPT, MSPT, NCS, PCS; Ryan Koter, PT, DPT; Suzanne O'Neal, PT, DPT, DHSc, NCS; Katherine Sweet, PT, DPT, NCS; Daniel Miner, PT, DPT  \n| Flexible/ Posterior Leaf Spring Provides varying degrees of flexibility based on design & materials used | o ↑ DF in swing\u003Cbr>o Lightweight\u003Cbr>o Pre-fabricated options\u003Cbr>o ↑ gait speed | o PF spasticity (≥MAS 3)\u003Cbr>o ↓ strength or control of the\u003Cbr>ankle or knee muscles\u003Cbr>o ↓ dynamic balance | o Material properties allow motion\u003Cbr>o Posterior trimlines ↓ ankle control & AFO rigidity | | Posterior Leaf Spring AFO\u003Cbr>o Most posterior trimline\u003Cbr>o More ankle motion allowed due to material flexibility\u003Cbr>o Minimal to no mediolateral ankle support\u003Cbr>o Minimal to no effect at the knee |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Articulating\u003Cbr>Provides varying degrees of motion at the ankle through hinges with opt","cbCaicfkY8o0rf5Z","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaicfkY8o0rf5Z","pdf",376441,"English","# AFO Types and Considerations\n## Solid or Rigid AFO\n## Ground Reaction AFO\n## Semirigid AFO\n## Flexible / Posterior Leaf Spring AFO\n## Articulating AFO\n## Dynamic AFO","[{\"question\":\"What are the main benefits of solid or rigid AFOs?\",\"answer\":\"Solid or rigid AFOs provide rigid ankle support to influence knee control. Benefits include increased stance-phase knee flexion/extension control, reduced equinovarus in stance, improved static balance, and potential ankle control depending on PF spasticity.\"},{\"question\":\"How does a Ground Reaction AFO improve knee stability during gait?\",\"answer\":\"A Ground Reaction AFO provides knee stability through an anterior-posteriorly directed force on the proximal tibia. It supports strong stance-phase knee flexion control and can increase static balance, with effects that depend on added shoe features such as a soft heel or rocker sole.\"},{\"question\":\"What key considerations affect the success of semirigid and posterior leaf spring AFOs?\",\"answer\":\"Semirigid AFO success depends on how design choices restrict or allow ankle motion, including trimline placement and material flexibility. Posterior leaf spring AFOs offer flexibility that can improve gait speed, but may reduce strength/control and dynamic balance, and provide minimal mediolateral ankle support while having minimal effects at the knee.\"}]","AFO Types and Considerations | PDF",1791854964]