The Richie Brace is one of those life-changing interventions that make you realise how much of an impact Podiatry can have on a person's life. For Wagga specifically, it's not something you would traditionally see Podiatrists use.
It’s a variation (and advancement) on the traditional style ankle-foot orthoses made from a cast of a patient's foot and leg. Unlike other AFO’s, a Richie brace uses a contoured, balanced orthotic as a footplate which is articulated to adjustable semi-rigid lower leg uprights. This allows it to stabilise rotational forces at the ankle joint, subtalar joint and midtarsal joint whilst the ankle hinge allows restricted sagittal plane ankle motion.
The reason we at Wagga Podiatry Plus love it is that this results in a more fluent, natural gait that accommodates a patient's deformity whilst allowing a more unobstructed, quicker, and more confident gait.
It’s used for a number of issues that effect the control, power and stability of the foot. In the video below, this gentleman turned up to the Podiatrist suffering from drop foot secondary to motor neuron disease. His gait without the brace is haphazard and dangerous, he is a high risk of having a fall.
At Wagga Podiatry Plus we also use use it for adult-acquired flat foot, severe ankle instability or degenerative joint disease of the foot and ankle.
The following video is this patient whilst using the Richie Brace. What a big difference it makes.
It’s clear here how big of an impact it had on this patient here but its the feedback you get from others who have been made and issued the widely used clunky, rigid and generally difficult to use AFO’s previously who really love and appreciate a Richie Brace.
If this is something that you think could benefit for you or someone you know. Don't hesitate to contact Wagga Podiatry Plus.
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