Bilateral Drop Foot solution for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)

http://www.insightful-products.com/step-smart

A bilateral drop foot patient is able to walk better immediately after putting on the Step-Smart braces for Drop Foot. This patient has Charcot Marie Tooth. Without any practice, the patient put on the braces, and we filmed immediately before and after he tried the Step-Smart brace. After a little practice he will get better and loose his old drop foot habits of hip hiking. Keep an eye out for the follow up video we plan to do after a couple weeks of getting used to the brace.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, or CMT, is a genetic disorder of the peripheral nervous system and characterized by progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch sensation across various parts of the body. Signs of this disease are lack of muscle, a high arch and claw toes.

In the early stages of the disease drop foot/foot drop can be seen and as it progresses there can be wasting away of the muscles which in turn can cause high arches and curling of the toes (claw toes). Peripheral neuropathic pain is also a symptom and can vary from case to case.

Blaze MI AFO testimonial and strap adjustment instructions

http://www.insightful-products.com

In this Foot of the week, a patient explains his success with the Blaze AFO and Ian Engelman, CPO, describes how to determine and adjust the length of the AFO strap.

Medicare AFO Height Requirement Rescinded

As expected, the height requirement for an AFO is being removed by medicare.

Let’s get on with helping people walk!

Below is the text from the Medicare website:

February 6, 2013

Ankle-Foot Orthoses/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses LCD related Policy Article – Revised
The related Policy Article for the Ankle-Foot Orthosis/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis is being revised. The Policy Article with an effective date of January 1, 2013 included Coding Guidelines for AFOs that included a height requirement. The height requirement is being removed. The effective date for the revised Policy Article is for dates of service on or after January 1, 2013.

See for yourself here:
http://www.cgsmedicare.com/jc/pubs/news/2013/0213/cope21209.html

Again, the only type of AFO that requires a PDAC Coding verification letter is the L1906. Insightful does not use that code for any of its current bracing. To verify this for yourself, please see the PDAC website listing those that are required. The link to this page is below.

https://www.dmepdac.com/review/items_requiring_coding_verification_reviews.html

Finally, keep in mind that the pretibial shell that has been offered by our competitors is essentially a custom shin guard, the argument that this provides axially unloading as medical justification is risky in our opinion.

Custom Ankle Brace solutions

http://www.insightful-products.com

Insightful Products offers a full array of AFO solutions. Each of our custom AFO ankle braces is designed for a specific biomechanical problem. We have the most advanced and newest designs on the market. Our new AFO ‘s or new ankle brace solutions are the most innovative AFO ‘s in the industry.

New Custom AFO for PTD Testimonial, Dr. Marc Feder, DPM

Dr. Marc Feder, DPM, talks about the new Blaze MI AFO for post tib (Posterior Tibial Tendonitis or PTD). The Blaze MI ankle brace is a custom ankle foot orthosis that helps people with medial ankle instability. It is an articulated design that works well for those with early stage PTTD.

See http://www.insightful-products for more info.

Foot of the Week – Episode 25 – Best Post Tib Brace

In this video blog, we discuss the importance of casting the post tib patient’s foot and ankle in a neutral position. If the cast is taken in a full weight bearing position, it can be difficult to provide the needed correction to the AFO or custom ankle brace for posterior tibial tendonitis.

Foot of the Week – Episode 23 – Post Tib Brace Evolution

In this “Foot of the Week” episode, we talk about the evolution of the medial malleolar window in our custom brace design for post tib or posterior tibial tendonitis (PTTD or PTD). The Blaze MI brace includes a relief for the medial malleolus called a window, and since its orgination, the shapes have changed. Now the brace even includes a relief or window for the navicular or any other prominent bone of the foot. This provide the required support while also providing the needed space and “give” when pressures and pain are high.

Foot of the Week – Episode 19 – Drop foot Case study

In this week’s episode, we visit a local foot and ankle doctor to help fit a bilateral pair of AFO’s or ankle braces. This particular case involves a patient with foot drop or drop foot in one leg and lateral ankle instability in the other. The solution for the inversion problem was the Cuboid Lock design used for the lateral ankle problem and the Step-Smart for the Foot drop problem. The Step-Smart also provides lateral support to control inversion and will help prevent the ankle from rolling over.

Foot of the Week – Episode 15 – Ankle Foot Orthosis Straps

http://www.insightful-products.com
In this Week’s vblog, we talk about the use of the term orthotic and how it is more than just a word to describe the Foot orthotic but also the AFO or Ankle Foot Orthosis. Also, we discuss AFO straps and how simple it can be to adjust your strap’s length by simply cutting excess material. We have many foot and ankle patients that dont feel comfortable altering the brace strap but so long as you leave enough of the strap to fasten the brace to the foot and ankle, its fine to cut off the excess material to make the adjustment.

Foot of the Week – Episode 14 – Foot Drop Brace refurbishment

http://www.insightful-products.com
In this episode, we demonstrate how we can refurbish an old AFO, in particular, the Step-Smart AFO. If your drop foot brace is looking old and shabby and needs to be cleaned up with new straps and brace parts, we provide this service at a reasonable price.