Orthosis for Foot Drop

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About Us Buying the Musmate   Australia   Canada   Europe   New Zealand   UK   USA   Other Countries Clinical Results Customer Comments Downloads Home Medical Professionals The Musmate    Left Leg Products    » Right Leg Products    Both Legs Products Site Map Terms & Conditions Other Products    The Anklemate    Exercise Kit	The Musmate Foot Drop Aid Is a Splint to Treat the Right Leg Foot drop is a common condition, in which an inability to lift the foot can cause serious problems in walking. A splint is commonly fitted to treat this condition. The Musmate Foot Drop Aid is a type of splint (or orthosis) which uses an adjustable elasticated assembly which connects to the shoe via either a shoe harness or shoelace connector and to the shoulder by a shoulder harness. The length of the elastic is adjustable to make walking as easy as possible, and there is a second adjustable strap which enable you to control the height of your foot lift. This means you can even go up stairs easily by lifting your foot as high as required.

The Musmate Foot Drop Aid assembles into a splint with five components:
shoulder pad (optional);
shoulder harness for the Right leg;
the elasticated assembly;
a shoelace or strap connector (or);
a shoe harness.
Each component will now be discussed in turn.

                                                                                                              The Shoulder Pad
The shoulder pad for use with the Musmate Foot Drop Aid is made from foam cushioning which spreads the weight of the shoulder harness. It was developed in response to complaints from some people that they were suffering from pain caused by the splint. It attaches to the harness with two velcro tapes which mean that they are detachable and can be used as required. As the shoulder muscles strengthen in response to the additional work, the pads should not be needed.

The Open Shoulder Pad

The harness sits on the open shoulder pad

The shoulder pad on shoulder harness for use

The Shoulder Harness for the Right Leg

Three views of the Musmate Foot Drop Aid being used as a splint are shown below. This is available in four sizes and a range of colours. It does go diagonally across the chest. In addition, there is an optional waist belt which helps to secure the harness in use.

The Elastic Connector

The elasticated assembly is the heart of the Musmate Foot Drop Aid. This is made from shock cord, which is made from elastic threads inside 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 for optimal splinting effect. 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. We can also supply the lower hook in metal. This uses a sliding motion to open and shut, rather than pushing against a plastic closure and some people find this easier.

Two Black Hooks

1 Black + 1 Metal Hook

All in White

The Musmate Foot Drop Aid 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 Right Shoe

The first attachment on the Musmate is the shoe harness. This goes around the back and underneath the shoe to form a robust device for lifting the foot and thus making the splint work. 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 shoe harness is also available in brown.

The Shoelace and Strap Connector

Shoelace Connectors in Many Colours	The elasticated assembly on the Musmate Foot Drop Aid 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 Sandals	Shoelace Connector on Shoes	Shoelace Connector on Trainers

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