Walking Boots For People With Footdrop ??'s

[harry1]

I'm curious if anyone on here with weak ankles along with foot drop wears some type of walking boots to help support your ankles and keep the feet from dropping as similar to how an AFO would work when out and about. I hate my AFO's and also they don't support the ankles from the sides as they only help for foot drop. I currently wear tennis shoes.

Any experience good and/or bad and brand name and price info etc. would be very appreciative .

[Bear2]

Try one of these: http://www.x-strap.com/.

I have one of these on the 3 shoes that I wear. They are not fantastic but they do help support my ankle also. They are cheap compared to any other medical equipment. And if I didn't like it, I would only be out $35-40 US. But, instead I bought 3 of them.

My AFO cost about $900 and sits in the closet.

[euphoniaa]

I'm curious if anyone on here with weak ankles along with foot drop wears some type of walking boots to help support your ankles and keep the feet from dropping as similar to how an AFO would work when out and about. I hate my AFO's and also they don't support the ankles from the sides as they only help for foot drop. I currently wear tennis shoes.

Any experience good and/or bad and brand name and price info etc. would be very appreciative .

Here are a few hints from me:

1. Check out this thread where I listed a bunch of foot drop exercises in the exercise forum.
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/exercise- ... 16860.html

2. Also, here's another elastic dorsiflexion aid that has been used and recommended by lots of PwMS - the Foot Flexr, used by runners.

Here are links to pics and an explanation, although it's sold at many other sites. I tried one, but it needs to stay on one shoe, and I change shoes for work every day. I actually made some smaller, less noticeable elastic straps of my own and attached them to each shoe for awhile.

They're perfect for athletic shoes, but I just couldn't figure out how to get them on all my fancy dress shoes. Bought a cane instead. The thick band might even support your ankle.

http://www.speed-fitness.com/footflex.html

http://www.speed-fitness.com/ffsecret.htm

Why use FOOT FLEXR?
FOOT FLEXR is a training tool that helps to teach dorsi-flexion of the foot. By attaching the Velcro cuff around your ankle and the elastic strap to the front of your shoe (using a cable tie through the last set of shoe lace holes) you can tighten the elastic strap to help teach you to dorsi-flex the foot. We made the strap elastic to allow you to extend the foot through normal sprinting motions. You can also adjust the level of resistance on the foot by tightening or loosening the elastic strap. As with all equipment, always start easy and add resistance as you become used to the new position.

3. As a female who dearly loves shoes, I've made it my mission to seek out and purchase the most footdrop-friendly shoes I can, while also indulging in my passion for shoes that are cute/stylish/interesting/affordable/comfortable. I've found quite a few styles that are a good deterrent to tripping - with toes that curl up slightly, soft enough to give a bit of spring, etc. Many athletic shoes are like that, but not all.

Good luck in finding the perfect solution. Hope more people stop in with hints.

[harry1]

Try one of these: http://www.x-strap.com/.

I have one of these on the 3 shoes that I wear. They are not fantastic but they do help support my ankle also. They are cheap compared to any other medical equipment. And if I didn't like it, I would only be out $35-40 US. But, instead I bought 3 of them.

My AFO cost about $900 and sits in the closet.

Bear, sorry to hear about your AFO's costing 900 dollars. I checked out your link and i appreciate it however the strap doesn't loo like it would support my ankles as they've been 100% paralysed since 2000 as i tend to fall over frontwards/backwards etc. very easy.

[harry1]

Euphoniaa

I appreciate the link about the ankle exercises however as i've stated before that my ankles are paralysed as i can't move them at all from my autoimmune demyelinating disease similar to MS called CIDP.

Anyway thank you !!

[euphoniaa]

Bumping this thread so it will be easier to find my links to foot drop info.

[Kinora]

I can only wear "keens" hiking boots. I like the Detroit Utility boot. It is not for drop foot, but has given me the most comfort and support.

[NancyBlues]

Hi, I broke my back in 1981 and the only shoes/boots that work for me and make me as mobile as possible are women's tactical boots that I buy at Big 5 stores in the northwest. If you know of any bootmakers that make a solid boot that support the ankle from side to side and toe to heel - keeping the toe up - please let me know. Thanks!