A new Richie system replaces walking boots and
treats a variety of lower extremity pathologies.
It’s simply Better!
Foot and Ankle Specialists commonly prescribe walking boots to treat injuries of the lower extremity. The goal of this treatment is to limit motion and offload damaging forces on injured structures. While superior to cast immobilization in many cases, walking boots have many shortcomings. Patients wearing these devices often complain of proximal pain in the knees, hips and spine. Walking boots are heavy and difficult to secure properly around the foot, ankle and lower leg. When walking boots are worn on the right leg, it is impossible to drive an automobile.
This innovative alternative can circumvent all of these negative aspects of walking boots while providing better treatment effects on injured structures of the lower extremity. The Richie AeroSpring Brace Systems combine the proven performance of a carbon fiber ankle-foot orthosis with a variety of pathology specific foot orthoses to stabilize the joints of the lower extremity and speed recovery.
The Richie AeroSpring Brace Systems have been designed to treat the most common conditions treated with walking boots by foot and ankle specialists:
Plantar Heel Pain Syndrome-unresponsive to traditional treatment
Achilles Tendon Rupture and Tendinopathy
Sprain and/or Degenerative Arthritis of the Midfoot Joints
All three of these conditions require long term immobilization in walking boots. In most cases, patient compliance is poor given the overall discomfort of wearing these devices.
Now a dynamic, lightweight brace system can be worn for weeks and months by the injured patient with almost no negative effects on gait, general comfort or ability to drive an automobile. Besides improved compliance, patient outcomes may improve due the positive treatment effects of dynamic loading of tendons and ligaments.
The “system approach” of the Richie AeroSpring combines the therapeutic effects of a custom functional foot orthosis with the lower limb stabilizing effects of a dynamic ground reaction carbon fiber ankle-foot orthosis. Depending upon the pathology treated, the foot orthosis of the Richie AeroSpring is modified with specific features to address the foot and ankle condition to augment and optimize the effects of the AFO device. In every case, the foot orthosis is designed to “marry” to the AFO device to allow the two components to function as a “system” rather than two component parts.
| ADVANTAGES OF THE Richie AeroSpring SYSTEM VS WALKING BOOT | |
| RBCF SYSTEM | WALKING BOOT |
| Lightweight | Heavy |
| No-leg length discrepancy | Significant Limb Length discrepancy |
| Near normal gait | Significant gait disturbance |
| Can drive a car | Cannot drive a car |
| Minimal balance compromise | Significant Balance Comp |
| Total foot support/alignment | Zero foot support |
| Dynamic tendon loading | No dynamic tendon loading |
| No contact with ankle | Contact/pressure at ankle |
| Handsome reimbursement | Minimal reimbursement |
Features
Clinical Indications
There are three broad patient populations who would benefit from the Richie AeroSpring System:
1. The patient with diabetes
2. The active patient with sports injury Diabetic RBCF System Indications Sports Injuries
3. The active patient with general injury
There are 2 essential components to the Richie AeroSpring System:
1. A pre-fabricated carbon fiber composite ankle-foot orthosis which contains a full length footplate, a lateral strut around the ankle and an anterior strut along the tibia. The proximal section of the AFO contains a contoured plate with tibial relief cut out, padding and 2 adjustable anchor straps.
2. A pair of custom functional foot orthoses. One orthosis is “married” to the footplate of the AFO brace and the other orthosis is worn in the contralateral shoe without an AFO brace.
This brace system is designed to:
– Off load key structures in the lower leg and foot
– Restore normal gait even with diabetic patients with forefoot amputation or Charcot deformity
Components
Four pathology specific systems combining an ultra-light dynamic carbon ankle-foot orthosis with a custom foot orthosis which has specific design features for each clinical condition.
All of our sport orthotics are multipurpose devices used for a wide range of sports and general activities and are biomechanically designed for subtalar control. These devices are recommended for active patients in need of firm control for plantar fasciitis and severe pronation. Sport orthotics serve as the most basic and common orthotics prescribed today. Our standard length is met length on all of our sport devices.
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