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AFOs help Liberty to ride and walk pain-free

Para-equestrian horserider, Libby, with her horse.

#orthotics

AFOs help Liberty to ride and walk pain-free

BY Daisy

17 March 2023

Bespoke carbon fibre AFOs are helping Liberty get back to walking and horseriding without pain.

  Para-equestrian horserider, Liberty, was born with a condition known as cortical dysplasia. Before children are born, developing brain cells organise into layers to form the cerebral cortex, the outermost part of the brain. But in some children, the brain cells do not organise in the way they're genetically supposed to. When this occurs, the top layer of the brain does not form properly. This condition is known as cortical dysplasia and is associated with seizures and epilepsy. Liberty’s epilepsy also affects the movement of her muscles and has right-sided hemiplegia. Her muscles from the right ankle upwards are affected. LOC first saw Liberty in 2015 on the recommendation of a paediatric consultant at Kingston Hospital and she was fitted with an ankle-foot-orthosis (AFO) to help with her drop foot. Fast forward to 2022 and Liberty has had two rounds of surgery for her epilepsy and currently now only experiences seizures at night. This means that she can enjoy one of her main passions, horse riding. She is a Grade 4 Para-equestrian. But the physical symptoms in her right leg were holding her back as her right ankle becomes very sore when riding. So, her mother, Rachel, turned to LOC for help.   Para horserider Libby putting on her ankle foot orthoses underneath her horseriding boots. Using carbon fibre allows us to create orthoses that are not only lighter and less bulky, but also stronger than traditional designs. In KAFOs, weight reductions of up to 30% are normal. This kind of weight reduction has an immediate positive impact on the patient, reducing their energy expenditure, which allows them to walk faster and for longer distances with more comfort. Take a look at our bespoke orthotics to get a better understanding of what LOC can offer, or contact LOC directly.   Bespoke carbon-fibre ankle-foot orthosis    

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Purple Day for Epilepsy is on the 26th March, find out how to get involved and support through the Epilespy.org website.    

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Carbon Fibre Ankle Foot Orthosis AFO Neuro Swing AFO Neuro HiTronic Knee System