Learn About Allard Braces

Allard Customer Service Specialists are available Mon. – Fri. 9AM-5:30PM Eastern via phone at (888) 678-6548 or email at info@allardusa.com

To schedule a fitting you will first need to get a prescription for an Ankle-Foot Orthosis from a physician. Your physician may refer you to a particular O&P (Orthotic and Prosthetic) facility or practitioner, but you are free to utilize the O&P of your choice.

Most fittings are done by certified orthotists in hospitals or in clinical settings, such as the facilities mentioned above. Before any fitting can happen there must first be an in-depth assessment between you and your clinician. During a first appointment the clinician evaluates your specific medical and physical conditions and may take various measurements, scans or casts of your affected limb/s.

Equally important in the initial appointment is that you, as the patient, provide crucial information about your daily activities and life goals: Do you have a job that requires strenuous labor? Do you have special hobbies or preferred activities where certain braces will not work well? The relationship between you and your clinician should be a partnership where good communication on both sides is key to obtaining a brace that works best for you. There is no one brace that is right for everyone.

Once you and your clinician have finished your initial assessment, various options of bracing will be considered and it will be up to both of you as to which one will best suit your needs.  From there your brace will be ordered and a second appointment will follow where you will receive your brace and have it customized for best fit and function. It is not unusual to return to the clinician as you are first getting used to your AFO; often there are adjustments necessary for optimum comfort and function so be sure to call your fitter should you have any problems at all.  If there is any redness, irritation or abnormalities of the skin integrity please contact your provider, especially if there is reduced feeling in the lower extremities.

Bracing cost depends on several variables such as your insurance provider and how much customization has to be done to the brace. Your orthotist should be able to help answer any questions you have about general cost/billing.

Allard USA is the manufacturer and distributor of Allard AFOs, and as such, do not deal directly with insurance companies or insurance billing. The facility where you are being fit for the brace should be able to help you with any insurance/billing/payment questions you may have.

Ultimately, a certified orthotist should be consulted about whether an Allard AFO is appropriate for you. However, some instances in which Allard AFOs may not be the best solution are:

• Leg ulcers
• Moderate to severe edema (swelling caused by fluid accumulation)
• Moderate to severe foot deformities **NOTE: Some foot amputations can be managed with the insertion of a partial foot prosthesis
• Severe hyperextension of the knee that cannot be managed orthotically **NOTE: Ask your orthotist about Allard’s CROSS or COMBO brace in combination with an Allard AFO

It is recommended that certain activities be modified to extend the life and functionality of your brace:

• When climbing stairs, the wearer should place their entire foot on the step instead of walking on the balls of their feet.
• When climbing a ladder, the center of the foot should be placed on the rung to minimize weight bearing on the ball of the foot alone.
• Squatting should be avoided as it will significantly increase the stress on the brace and increase the risk of breakage.
• Take care to not leave your brace laying down to reduce possibility of someone stepping or sitting on it.
• Do not expose your brace to temperature extremes such as leaving it in a car trunk on a hot day or outdoors during extreme cold.
• Be sure to check the skin area around the brace as well as the brace itself every day for irritation or abnormalities, especially if there is reduced feeling in the lower extremities.

1. You continue to trip or fall
2. You feel any pain or even discomfort from the orthosis or pressure from your shoes
3. You can’t walk as far as you can without the AFO
4. You feel any pain discomfort in your knees, hip, or back that you don’t feel when not wearing the AFO
5. When you are wearing your Allard AFO, you start to feel you do not receive as much “push-off” assist as you initially did
6. If there is any redness, irritation or abnormalities of the skin integrity please contact your provider, especially if there is reduced feeling in the lower extremities