What are some contraindications for a floor reaction AFO?

The floor reaction ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is specifically designed to assist with knee stability during the stance phase of walking. It functions by leveraging ground reaction forces to provide support to the knee, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with certain lower limb weaknesses or conditions. However, there are specific contraindications for this type of device, such as genurecurvatum and coronal instability of the knee.

Genurecurvatum refers to hyperextension of the knee while standing, which can be exacerbated by the floor reaction design. This condition may increase the risk of injury or discomfort if ground reaction forces are improperly applied. Similarly, coronal instability of the knee lacks sufficient lateral stability, which the floor reaction AFO may not effectively address. For individuals with these conditions, using a floor reaction AFO could lead to further knee instability or complications while walking.

Other options listed may present challenges but do not directly contraindicate the use of a floor reaction AFO as explicitly as genurecurvatum or coronal knee instability. This understanding helps clinicians determine when a floor reaction AFO is suitable based on the specific biomechanical needs and conditions of their patients.