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AFO: Ankle Foot Orthotic

AFO: Ankle Foot Orthotic. Section C: Alex, Chad, Elina , Shelby, Shyam. Features. Easily customizable and moldable Made of poly-propylene Strap is typically leather. Strap . Plastic Brace. History/ General Facts.

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AFO: Ankle Foot Orthotic

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  1. AFO: Ankle Foot Orthotic Section C: Alex, Chad, Elina, Shelby, Shyam

  2. Features • Easily customizable and moldable • Made of poly-propylene • Strap is typically leather Strap Plastic Brace

  3. History/ General Facts Early 20th century Polio outbreak causes need for large amount of foot braces. Original braces extremely cumbersome and have limited range of motion. For some people these braces are more than is necessary for their condition.

  4. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons sought to design a new type of foot brace. In 1960 with the help of polypropylene molding AFO braces were born. AFO proves to be more comfortable, customizable, and cheaper.

  5. AFO designs since then have still been upgraded. • Different composite metal materials are beginning to be used. • Designs meant for acute ankle injuries have been developed.

  6. Physiology • Affected persons suffer from: • Inability to properly to flex the foot – i.e loss of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion motions • Nerve damage, muscular disorders, deformities, and CNS disorders • Scale of foot movement: • 0=complete paralysis … 5=contraction against powerful resistance • Loss of Balance (especially on the same side as the foot condition) • Foot Slap • Muscular Dystrophy • Pain in the knee and lower back

  7. Physiology • Emotional Side Effects: • Self-conscious about brace • Self-image doubts • How will this affect dating • Professionalism • Sense of Masculinity/Femininity • Discomfort affects mood (irritable)

  8. Functionality • Control involuntary movements of the foot (i.e foot slap) • Improves postural control for monopedal and bipedal • Stimulates skin mechanoreceptors • Aids in lateral movement Usability • Various walking situations • Worn all day/every day use • Worn with tennis shoes and lace up shoes • To play sports

  9. Walk Without Brace

  10. Remove product from packaging and unveil the Velcro strap How to Use • Place your heal in the bottom edge of the brace and place your whole foot on the bottom of the brace • Make the back of your calf touch the back side of the brace and then strap the cushion around your shin tightly so it does not slip

  11. How to Use • Carefully fit your foot into your shoe without having the brace slip under your foot • Tie your shoes laces and make sure the brace is tightly fitted on your foot • Repeat process when ever AFO is needed • Does the AFO fit comfortably on your foot? • Yes • Get a new AFO which fits • No

  12. User Analysis • User Characteristics • Adults with foot drop • Male and female • Left or right foot • Wearing footwear over AFO • Gait problems • Foot slap • Leg weakness • User Environments • Outdoors and indoors • Uneven terrain • Dirt and dust • Direct contact with skin • Both high and low pH • Various Climates • Cyclic loading • User Objectives • Comfortable • Biocompatible • Durable • Aesthetically pleasing

  13. User Profiles • User 2 • Male • 53 years old • Stroke victim • Physically active • Runs and lifts weights • Avid golfer and tennis player • Lateral and rotational motion • User 1 • Female • 32 years old • Mother of two • Wants to look good • Discrete brace • Wearable with heels

  14. Market Segment Analysis • Current consumers of the AFO are: • Middle-aged adults who develop foot drop due to: • Birth defect • stroke • Diabetes • Surgical Complications • Children who have developed foot drop • Short term vs. Long term usage

  15. Market Segment Analysis Standard Price Range:

  16. Market Segment Analysis Premium Price Range:

  17. Current problems with the AFO • Soles that do not contour the foot and cause discomfort, bruising, or even cut off circulation • Don’t provide support along the sides of the foot allowing for slipping and possible injury • Polypropylene against bare skin causes irritation and can give users a rash over time • Flat soles allow only the use of tennis shoes and similar footwear • Physical activity limited to the range of motion given by stiff brace

  18. Proposal • Needs to fulfill a more complete lifestyle • (i.e occasions requiring shoes other than tennis shoes) • Help reduce emotional and psychological side effects • Make more comfortable and reduce pain induced by brace

  19. Sources Blaya, Joaquin A. "Force-controllable Ankle Foot Orthosis(AFO) to Assist Drop Foot Gait." Dspace@MIT. Masachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. Web. 29 Jan. 2011. <http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/28282/53324241.pdf?sequence=1>. Kaye, Joshua. "Foot Orthotics." Foot Orthotics - Orthotics. DPM, 1998. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://footorthotics.com/images/topics/history.html>.

  20. Questions?

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