AFO's

[NerdaliciouS]

With summer coming up, I was just curious as to how the rest of you deal with the HEAT!! They get sweaty enough, and leave marks no matter what, but with summer approaching... I'm currently trying to go visit someone for summer and I know there'd be a bit of walking. I don't want to re-scar my legs from these dumb braces! And yes, I wear long socks. ;P

Just curious as to what you guys do, though... The sweatiness REALLY bothers me. And then they just slip around more and... Bleh. Gross. I don't want to be in them much but I can't fit into any other shoes right now, so... Help? :( lol

[Gymp]

Talc powder maybe?
My wife wears an AFO and when she doesn't have the it on the marks are always there where the straps are.She doesn't have the sweat problem.

Sorry not much help Shii.

Gymp

[LisaJoy]

I had the orthotist cut some ventilation holes in mine. Seems to help. Also, I found some sandals that would fit over the AFO & cut the toes out of some of my socks. That ventilation helps too.

[tessa3598]

great idea for the socks!! Ill try that this summer. Where did you get the sandals??? We can NEVER find any that stay on braces and have enough support.

sarah

[NerdaliciouS]

Talc powder huh? Hmm...


I was thinking about asking for holes, because they always did them for mine as a kid. But they told me it'd weaken the brace so they can't do it. -_-

My feet are also pretty big and just... weird as it is.. So I don't think I could do that. :(

Oy, thanks for suggestions, though. Can't hurt to try something, I guess. I could always cut them off! :sign0020:

[eng188]

I haven't had too much problem. No special ideas, though talc seems intriguing.

On an unrelated note, there's a tech issue here. This thread doesn't show if you click the "General Spina Bifida Talk link from the forum homepage.

[Summer25]

I haven't had too much problem. No special ideas, though talc seems intriguing.

On an unrelated note, there's a tech issue here. This thread doesn't show if you click the "General Spina Bifida Talk link from the forum homepage.

It isn't supposed to show up. It is under Equipment which is a sub category under the general sb link. As for the AFOs, do you use the stockings underneath? Those might help.

[NerdaliciouS]

The SB clinic told me to wear long socks, so now whenever I wear them I wear socks that go up to my knees, lol. Still gets really hot and blek.

[LisaJoy]

great idea for the socks!! Ill try that this summer. Where did you get the sandals??? We can NEVER find any that stay on braces and have enough support.

sarah

It takes some trial and error to find sandals that will stay on. The ones that work the best for me are Ecco, a European brand. They cost a fortune, but I've been wearing them for four years. I've never seen Ecco for kids, though. However, I also found a cheap pair at Target that work -- they are a Boys size 6.

The sandals that work for me are definitely not girly -- I gave up on girly shoes when I got the AFO. They are the sport-style walking sandals, completely flat (no heel at all). Not all of them work though -- it seems to have something to do with how the heel strap is attached, as to whether they slip off at the back. I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly what the key to success is, though.

[NerdaliciouS]

It's depressing always having to wear shoes. It's either...Huge, ugly man shoes, or teeny, tiny, kiddie shoes. -_- How I would love to wear heels...

[Ziggy]

what about these with sandals? they'd be cooler... and I bet you could wear Keens sandals with AFOs

http://www.royalknit.com/products/brace-cast-socks/

[technovicki]

have you tried AFO-specific socks? I have to find the box at home but I got a pair from the orthotics office when I received my last pair of braces. They seemed thinner and wicker-free like but never really used them. I wear bilateral AFO's and were long cotton (boys) socks and lived in Texas most of my life (triple digit heat) but never had a sweat problem. I mean my feet will sweat if I'm outside or working out but not to the point where they are slippery in my braces. Is that what you are saying? I know everyone has different designs but maybe the brace needs adjusting so that the sweat doesn't cause too much friction. I wish I was better help.

[NerdaliciouS]

They were really, really expensive for just one pair of socks, so I had to get other stuff that goes up really high. And I kind of like them because they add a little bit more to my legs, so everything fits a tad snugger...Lol, sounds odd, I know. But I've always had that problem, where it gets really sweaty and to the point where it is slippery. It's actually really gross to take them off some days because of that.

I don't know if it's because they're not fitting right (I had some scabs from it sliding around one day before I wore the high, high socks), or if it's because I just sweat more (ew, lol). It could be a bit of both, it takes quite a lot of effort to stand upright even, and I start sweating after a short while. -_- So maybe it's both, I dunno. I was just wondering if anyone else gets that too or if it's just me. :( lol

[technovicki]

so i was at my orthothics office today and asked what would cause sweating and slippy in braces. obviously it could be multiple things but one was socks, cotton socks and if need be wear two pair. and if you don't wear you AFO's often then maybe getting use to them before you go on your trip would help. for example, when i received one of my latest braces it had more covering in the foot area that my socks were soak and wet (gross) by the end of the day but after a couple of days my feet adjusted to the temperature and is no longer an issue. just a couple suggestions.