Dynamic Assist
The Richie Dynamic Assist®
The Dynamic Assist is a custom articulated ankle-foot-orthosis with two spring-like hinges, medial and lateral, to provide up to 15 degrees of dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint during the swing phase of gait.
Clinical Indications
- The Richie Dynamic Assist Brace® is indicated for the stabilization of the foot and ankle in patients with weakness of the dorsiflexor and evertor muscles of the lower leg
- Partial or complete dropfoot
This presentation may be the result of:
- Post CVA (stroke)
- Mild Muscular Dystrophy
- Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
- Post Spinal Cord Surgery
- Diabetic Neuropathy
This Brace can be used if the patient has:
- Adducto-varus foot deformity
- Diabetic Charcot deformity without severe equinus
- Body weight over 200 pounds
Contraindications
The Richie Brace® is not indicated for patients with:
- Spasticity of plantar flexors or invertor muscle groups
- Moderate to severe weakness of plantarflexors
- Severe equinus ankle dorsiflexion zero degrees or less
Advantages
The Richie Dynamic Assist Brace® is an alternative to traditional AFO therapy for dropfoot because the brace has a comfortable, low-profile sport brace design. It also has a custom, balanced foot orthotic that contours to the medial and lateral arches and balances forefoot to rearfoot deformities, much like a podiatric foot orthotic.
The orthotic footplate can incorporate standard podiatric modifications including accommodations, forefoot posting and sweet spots. The dynamic hinge is anatomically aligned to allow a comfortable pure sagittal plane motion according to the patient’s own unique axis of rotation.
The casting technique utilizes the standard Richie Brace® protocol with three strips of plaster or the STS Ankle Sock.
The Richie Dynamic Assist Brace® is now available utilizing the current standard Richie Brace® Prescription form. Just designate at the top of the form “Dynamic Assist” and complete the form according to the footplate prescription requirements.