The Musmate Orthosis (AFO) for Foot Drop

Walking Aids

Musmate Ltd, P. O. Box 3976, Bath, BA1 0DF, UK.
Tel. (0845) 094 4674; fax (0845) 094 4674;
e-mail sales@musmate.co.uk .

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The Musmate Lower Limb Orthosis

The Musmate is technically described as a lower limb orthosis. This is because it has wider capabilities than the more widespread ankle foot orthosis (AFO). In particular, with an AFO, the support to stop the foot dropping comes from the back of the calf. If the leg muscles are weak following a stroke or deteriorating due to progressive multiple sclerosis, then one set of weak muscles is supporting another set.

By anchoring the Musmate on the shoulder, the Musmate is supporting the foot with a diverse range of muscles, including the shoulder, back, and thigh ones. These are large, powerful muscles and can support the foot-raising easily. in addition the lifting action supports the bending of the knee and its intrinsic balance enables easy swing-through of the hips.

This approach has several other advantages. Firstly there is no insert inside the shoe. This means there is no possibility of foot injuries, and it avoids the situation whereby people have to buy two different sizes of shoe because of the size of the insert. Secondly, there is no pressure on the back of the leg. Next, for those with paralysis on one side, the diagonal design of the shoulder harness means that the good side is supporting the weaker side. Finally the use of the long elastic means that the foot is free to move as the wearer desires. This means there is much less risk of disuse atrophy, which is a concern with some dssigns of AFO.

The Musmate Orthosis has three product groups:
For the Left Leg
For the Right Leg
For Both Legs

The Musmate Walking Aid comes in five pieces:

an optional shoulder pad;

shoulder harness for the left leg;

the elasticated assembly;

a shoelace or strap connector;

a shoe harness.

The Shoulder Pad

The shoulder pad reduces the impact of the additional load on the shoulder by cushioning it. It is fully detachable so it can be used as required. It should be required less and less as the shoulder muscles develop in response to the additional work.

The Open Shoulder Pad

The harness sits on the open shoulder pad

The shoulder pad on shoulder harness for use

The Shoulder Harness Used with the Left Leg Orthosis

As shown in the different views below, the harness for use with one leg goes across the body diagonally (i.e. if the version is for the right foot then the shoulder harness goes over the left shoulder and vice versa). In addition, there is an optional waist belt which prevents the harness rotating or moving when in use. This has been designed so that if it is not used, then the clips can be connected together to avoid stray ends.

Whilst the standard colour is black, the shoulder harness can be built in a wide variety of colours as shown in the following pictures. Whilst some people may prefer a more discreet colour, physiotherapists and NHS professionals may use a bolder colour to reduce the risk of their Musmate Walking Aids "walking". Please note that, currently, all plastic fittings are available only in black.

Left Leg Shoulder Harness in Blue

Left Leg Shoulder Harness in Beige

There are four sizes of shoulder harness- extra small, small, medium, large.
    * The extra small one is designed for those people who are less than 120cm (3'11") in height and including children
    * The small one will fit people whose height is from 120cm (3'11") to 175cm (5'10") and chest (or hips) up to 90cm.
    * The medium size fits people up to 200cm (6'6") in height and 110cm (43") over the chest or hips.
    * The large one is suitable for people over these dimensions.
We are happy to provide guidance on sizing and to exchange harnesses should the sizing be incorrect.

The length of the harness is easily adjusted using the triglide adjusters. This should only need to be done once. The length of the hanging strap in combination with the length of the elastic assembly combines to yield the level of support and height of foot lift. This is used frequently to vary the support, such as when tired or the ground is more uneven and a higher lift is preferred.

The Elastic Connector

The elasticated assembly is the key component in the Musmate Orthosis. This is made from shock cord, which comprises elastic threads in a plastic coating. The length of this is adjustable by moving the nylon rod up and down. This means that not only can the person wearing it adjust it to their leg length, but can also vary the amount of lift and support to meet their varying needs. For example, the lift can be increased so that stairs can be climbed or to cross rough ground without tripping. We supply a standard length for adults, and a thinner cord for children.

The elastic assembly is currently only available as a black cord. We can supply thinner cords (5mm or 6mm rather than 8mm diameter) in a wider range of colours. In addition, the two hooks are available in black or white. Black hooks are more discreet, alternatively the white hooks are more visible for finding at night for nocturnal visits.

1 Black + 1 White Hook

Two Black Hooks

The Musmate supports the lifting up of the foot when the leg muscles are relaxed. The elasticated assembly is attached to the shoulder harness at one end, and at the other end it is attached to the shoe. There are two ways of achieving this: the shoe harness and the shoelace connector.

The Shoe Harness for the Left Shoe

The first attachment on the Musmate Orthosis is the shoe harness. This goes around the back and underneath the shoe to form a robust device for lifting the foot. This comes in three sizes. There is a small one for children and ladies with small feet, a middle size one for ladies, and a larger one for men. In addition, this does come in left and right-hand versions. The difference is in the position of the connecting clip on the side. Whilst this could be on the left or right hand side of the shoe, our preference is for it to be on the inside of the shoe to minimise the risk of it colliding with protruding objects whilst in use.

The Shoelace and Strap Connector

Shoelace Connectors in Many Colours	The elasticated assembly on the Musmate Orthosis can be fitted to the shoe with a shoelace connector. This goes around the shoelaces, straps, or hook & loop fastenings. It has a triangle with which to connect to the elasticated assembly. It is available in one size only, but a custom version can be produced if required. These are available in many different colours, although the plastic fittings are only in black. Remember to check the straps and laces regularly for wear and tear and replace them so that they do not break whilst the Musmate is in use.	Shoelace Connector on Trainers
Shoelace Connector on Sandals	Shoelace Connector on Shoes	Shoelace Connector on Trainers

Shoelace Connector on Sandals

Shoelace Connector on Shoes

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