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Jill Smith, PT, and Cindy Deiner, CPO, team together to determine if their young patient can tolerate a lower level of support in his next pair of DAFOs.
This case study video shows the same patient, Summer, at age 2 and age 7. Summer has a diagnosis of schizencephaly and exhibits strong excess plantarflexion (toe walking) with high muscle tone. At age 2, she wears a pair of custom fabricated DAFO 3 Softy plantarflexion block orthoses to help control foot position. At age 7, Summer wears a pair of custom fabricated DAFO 2 orthoses -- hinged plantarflexion block style orthoses. This video is narrated by the patient's orthotist: Cindy Diener, CPO.
A young girl wears a hinged DAFO 2 on her left side to help control excess plantarflexion (toe walking). The custom-fabricated DAFO 2 combines full wrap-around foot control with a hinged proximal upgright designed to block plantarflexion.
The patient in this before-and-after video exhibits strong knee hyperextension. He benefits from the stability and control provided by a pair of custom-fabricated hinged DAFO 2 orthoses. The DAFO 2 provides comfortable, wrap-around foot control with a hinged proximal upright designed to block ankle plantarflexion.
This before-and-after video shows a young boy with a crouched posture benefit from the stability and support of solid-ankle AFOs. Patient is wearing the DAFO Turbo -- a 2-part custom-fabricated brace consisting of a wrap-around inner liner for foot control, combined with a rigid outer foundation that effectively blocks ankle movement, applying a gentle correction to the patient's excess dorsiflexion.
A young boy with knee hyperextension experiences improvement in stability and gait pattern when introduced to a combined regimen of bracing and physical therapy. This video demonstrates the brace selection process from assessing the patient’s needs, to assessing the outcome.
Allen, a 2 year old boy, exhibits excess plantarflexion and needs a device that will encourage full-contact standing during school-based therapy activities. Allen wears a pair of pre-fabricated JumpStart Kangaroo orthoses to block excess plantarflexion and encourage active dorsiflexion. This video shows the entire bracing process -- from patient assessment to sizing to fitting and adjustments, and finally, evaluation of fit and function. Narrated by Don Buethorn, CPO -- owner of Cascade Dafo, Inc.
This patient case study video follows Niles, a 5-year-old boy who exhibits excess plantarflexion on his affected side. Niles diagnosis is cerebral palsy (hemiplegia). Niles' pediatric physical therapist, Vicki Schwartz, narrates this video and discusses some of the exercises she uses during the PT session. Niles wears a hinged custom fabricated DAFO 2 to provide foot and ankle stability.
This video demonstrates how the leg and ankle move in the DAFO 3 as compared to the DAFO 2. Both braces are designed to block excess plantarflexion which can present as toe walking or knee hyperextension.
We received the following email and video from Tadd, proud dad to twins Derby and Loen:
“My twins were born 16 weeks early, at just 24 weeks and 2 days gestation weighing only 1 pound 6 ounces each. They both were in the NICU for nearly 4 months and came home in February 2008. We were pleased with our NICU outcome, especially considering some of the hurdles that they both overcame. Fast forward for about 1 year – February 2009. The twins adjusted age is now around 1 year. My daughter starts to walk and is pretty much on pace with her adjusted age. My son, on the other hand, is clearly not going to be walking in the near future. We received a cerebral palsy diagnosis for him sometime in the middle of August, 2009 and the doctor prescribed him a DAFO. At this point, I was hoping that he would be walking on his own by Christmas. Then, he received his DAFO on Monday, August 31, 2009 and proceeded to amaze us by taking his first steps only 2 days later. You can only imagine the elation that his mother and I shared that day.
There was no stopping him after that. For the next month or two he didn’t want to play, he only wanted to walk. So, while it is a little bit late, I would like to thank you for helping my son. His mobility really means the world to him and also to us.”
In this before and after video, a young boy wears a hinged DAFO 2 on his left side to help control excess plantarflexion (toe walking). The custom-fabricated DAFO 2 combines full wrap-around foot control with a hinged proximal up-right designed to block plantarflexion.
In this before and after video, a young boy wears hinged DAFO 2s to help control excess plantarflexion (toe walking). The custom-fabricated DAFO 2 combines full wrap-around foot control with a hinged proximal up-right to block plantarflexion.
In this before and after video, a boy wears hinged DAFO 2s to help control excess plantarflexion (toe walking). The custom-fabricated DAFO 2 combines full wrap-around foot control with a hinged proximal up-right to block plantarflexion.
This side-by-side comparison shows how the leg and ankle move in the DAFO 3 as compared to the DAFO 2. Both braces are designed to block excess plantarflexion which can present as toe walking or knee hyperextension.
This side-by-side comparison shows how the leg and ankle move in the DAFO 2 as compared to the DAFO Tami2. Both of these hinged braces are designed to block excess plantarflexion while allowing free dorsiflexion.
Order form for the DAFO 2. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
Order form for the DAFO 2 Softy. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
Order form for the DAFO 3. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
Order form for the DAFO 3 Softy. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
Order form for the DAFO 8 Softy. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
Order form for the DAFO R. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
Order form for the DAFO Tami2. May be completed electronically or printed and filled out by hand. Must be sent in with the patient's cast or uploaded with your digital scan through the e-order system at https://orders.cascadedafo.com
A Dafo Dynamic article by Susan Witter and Debra Huntsman-Lannom, PT. Debra enlisted a professional surfer to use surfing therapy for children with mobility challenges.