Lower Limb Bracing

Lower limb braces include orthotics, braces and supports for the leg, hip, knee, ankle, and foot.  They range from simple foot orthotics to complex gait orthotics. Conditions that benefit from lower limb bracing include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, stroke, sports injury, fractures, trauma, and post-operative recovery.

Below is a brief description of a variety of lower limb braces:

• Foot Orthotics: inserted into shoes and are designed to evenly distribute pressure over the entire surface of the foot, alleviating painful areas and correcting foot, ankle and knee alignment.
• Ankle Supports: give ankle stability and are often used for chronic ankle sprains and strains.
• Ankle-Foot Orthoses: provide support and proper joint alignment to the foot and ankle.
• Lower Extremity Walker Boots: aid in foot and ankle stability and limit range of motion of the lower extremity.  They are used to treat injuries, fractures, or disease.
• Lower Extremity Soft Supports: include braces made from canvas, fabric and neoprene.  They can be reinforced as needed with metal or plastic.
• Functional Knee Orthosis: give stability to the knee joint after ligament injury, knee reconstruction, meniscus injury and for prevention.
• Knee Immobilizers: are used to immobilize the lower leg postoperatively and directly after knee injury.  They provide total immobilization of the knee.
• Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses: support joint alignment to the knee, foot and ankle.  They add support where there is muscle weakness.
• Lower Extremity Fracture Orthoses: a walker boot used to treat some distal tibial/fibular fractures.
• Reciprocating Gait Orthoses: help patients with spinal cord injury and other disorders to assist them to walk.  A reciprocating gait orthosis provides a method of movement that is as normal as possible.
• Hip Abduction Orthosis: maintains alignment of the hip or prosthetic hip.
• Sequential Compression Therapy: delivers intermittent compression to aid in circulation and prevent blood clots.
• Compression Stockings: help control edema/lymphedema and venous return.

For lower limb bracing in your area, orthotists and prosthetists and certified pedorthists are fully trained to perform lower limb assessment and design lower limb bracing to suit the individual’s needs.