Foot Drop Aid

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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About Us Buying the Musmate Clinical Results Customer Comments Downloads Home Medical Professionals The Musmate    Left Leg Products    Right Leg Products    » Both Legs Products Site Map Terms & Conditions Deutsch Español Français Português Other Products    The Anklemate    Exercise Kit	The Musmate Foot Drop Aid for Both Legs Foot drop can affect either or both legs, to a varying degree of severity. The Musmate Walking Aid has been designed to maximise people's ability to walk by combining the properties of elastic cord with design features to maintain mobility, such as a controllable level of support and the ability to adjust the height of the foot lift. This treatment can enable people to walk for longer and to maintain their independence better.

The Musmate Walking Aid combines five assemblies:
a shoulder pad;
a shoulder harness (both legs type);
two elasticated assemblies (one for each leg);
two shoelace or strap connectors (one for each shoe);
or, alternatively, two shoe harnesses (one for each shoe).
Each component will now be discussed in turn.
The Shoulder Pad

The shoulder pad for use with the Musmate Walking Aid cushions the shoulder from the extra work. Some people had complained about the pain as their muscles were weakened by long periods of underactivity arising from their walking difficulties. 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 the pads should no longer 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 Both Legs

In the case of a both legs Musmate, the shoulder harness fits over both shoulders with a metal ring on the back. This too has optional detachable belts for the front and back to ensure that the Musmate works as required. The belts are independently adjustable for length. The pictures, below, show the harness from different angles.

We do have customers who prefer to use this harness when they have problems with only one leg because it spreads the load on the shoulders and also can give better control on the positioning of the elastic.

The Elastic Connector

The elasticated assembly is the heart of the product. This is made from shock cord, which comprises a bundle of 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. The lower hook is also available in metal. This is preferred by some people who find the sliding action of the catch easier than pushing the plastic hook closure.

Two Black Hooks

1 Black + 1 Metal Hook

All in White

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 Both Shoes

The first attachment 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. It is available in black and brown.

The Shoelace and Strap Connector

Shoelace Connectors in Many Colours	The elasticated assembly 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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