grade 6 — Ground Reaction Ankle Foot Orthosis (GRAFO)

Foot
Ankle
Knee

grade 6 solution may be suitable for individuals with:

  • Knee and ankle instability due to loss of muscle and ligament integrity from trauma or pathology
  • A need to redistribute forces away from a wound site to the shin and knee
  • Quadriceps weakness leading to knee instability and buckling

grade 6 prescription options

A grade 6 solution includes GRAFOs, CROW walkers and other specialty devices to provide increased stability at the knee joint

  • Cast is modified as specified and can include areas of relief and areas of increased loading to achieve the desired outcome
  • The device can be fabricated out of one or multiple layers of foam, plastics or carbon fibre
  • A range of joints can be moulded into the device to meet patient weight, support, stability, and energy return requirements
  • Additional padding, wedging, and straps using a range of materials
  • Walking sole or fit in standard footwear

Orthosis Creation Process:

  1. A (negative) cast is taken of the patients lowerlimb and foot
  2. The cast is filled to create a positive mould of the patients limb. This cast is modified as per the clinicians request to unload bony prominences and areas of concern and load where possible
  3. The cast is prepared for moulding and placements of joints and reinforcement are located if applicable
  4. Layers of plastic and foam are individually heated and vacuum formed to form a device
  5. Appropriate padding and straps are added as per the clinicians request
  6. Quality checked and dispatched to either the patient or clinician for fitting

grade 6 clinical result:

Why Orthotics Matters

 

An aged post-polio patient approached g20 Orthotics Ltd. looking for a solution to their chronic knee instability and foot pain. After looking at the patient’s wider lifestyle, and triaging to assess Orthosis needs, the patient was prescribed a grade 6 GRAFO.

Custom-built to aid with weight bearing, the Orthosis was paired with a grade 3 insert to protect the bony parts of the foot. The results were an increased range of movement, with day-to-day mobility requiring less effort and discomfort from the patient’s perspective. The patient’s day-to-day confidence was greatly enhanced by this device.