My video update today shows my progress using AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics). In years of working with orthotics, I've found the trickiest transition to be from KAFOs (long leg braces) to AFOs (braces below the knee). As always, every spinal cord injury is different, so not everyone would find this to be the hardest change to make. For me, regaining knee function has proven a challenge. Plus, the last time I was closest to making the switch occurred right before the discovery that my leg was what the doctors called "impressively" broken. The broken leg had nothing to do with using KAFOs or AFOs. It had everything to do with osteoporosis, a side effect of spinal cord injuries. But whenever AFOs come up, I worry that something else might happen — and that others, thinking it had to do with the orthotics, will miss out on the benefits of KAFOs/ AFOs!
In future posts, I'll be saying more about both KAFOs/ AFOs, including what they are and how to use them on a daily basis. I'm also going to talk a little bit about osteoporosis. These are some of my most requested topics. If you have questions or comments about what would be helpful, or if there's something that you're curious about, please contact me or leave a comment below.
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