ABSTRACT
Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) continue to be widely used in the management and correction of the pathological ankle. The stiffness properties of these devices should provide for control or management of unwanted movements, while permitting for existing normal movements to occur. Polypropylene is a material commonly and successfully used in the production of AFOs which are matched to the clinically determined needs of the patient. The adjustment of the stiffness of custom-made polypropylene AFOs is achieved by the systematic removal of material at the lower section of the calf shell where bending principally occurs, which often results in a device which cannot endure the subsequent bending stresses when the device is routinely worn.
