Richie AeroSpring Bracing System
Richie AeroSpring Bracing System
A new and improved Richie AeroSpring system replaces walking boots and treats a variety of lower extremity pathologies. It’s simply the best solution.
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Featuring a redesigned medial ankle strut for enhanced pronation control. The medial strut is also “lower profile” to make it more streamlined and more comfortable by minimizing contact with the leg.
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The footplate can be trimmed with scissors to customize shoe fit. No grinding necessary!
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The upper shin cuff is more flexible for added comfort.
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The strap closures and padding around the upper shin cuff are much improved for comfort and durability.
ALL SYSTEMS FEATURE
- Carbon fiber ankle foot orthosis – controls ankle joint dorsiflexion and load on the Achilles tendon
- Custom functional foot orthosis (1 pair) – controls rearfoot pronation
- Patented “Richie ArchLock” – offloads the medial-central band of the plantar fascia
ACHILLES OFFLOADING SYSTEM
- Offloads Achilles
- Graduated 20mm heel wedges – 2 layers of 10mm
PLANTAR FASCIA OFFLOADING SYSTEM
- Offloads plantar fascia
- Graduated 10mm heel wedges
MIDFOOT OFFLOADING SYSTEM
- Offloads unstable midfoot joints
- Carbon fiber footplate with toe rocker offloads dorsiflexion bending movements across the midfoot
- Graduated 10mm heel wedges
DROPFOOT STABILITY SYSTEM
- Restores stability to neurologic patient
- Carbon fiber footplate with toe rocker diminishes dorsiflexion of the MTP’s and engagement of the windlass
CLINICAL INDICATIONS
- Achilles Offloading System
- Tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon
- Post-surgical and non-surgical management of the Achilles tendon rupture
- Plantar Fascia Offloading System
- Severe recalcitrant plantar heel pain syndrome
- Midfoot Offloading System
- Treatment of sprain of the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints
- Treatment of degenerative arthritis of the midfoot joints
- Dropfoot Stability System
- Neurologic conditions resulting in foot drop or loss of posterior lower leg muscle strength
Richie AeroSpring
Bracing System
A new and improved Richie AeroSpring system replaces walking boots and treats a variety of lower extremity pathologies. It’s simply the best solution.
-
Featuring a redesigned medial ankle strut for enhanced pronation control. The medial strut is also “lower profile” to make it more streamlined and more comfortable by minimizing contact with the leg.
-
The footplate can be trimmed with scissors to customize shoe fit. No grinding necessary!
-
The upper shin cuff is more flexible for added comfort.
-
The strap closures and padding around the upper shin cuff are much improved for comfort and durability.
ALL SYSTEMS FEATURE
- Carbon fiber ankle foot orthosis – controls ankle joint dorsiflexion and load on the Achilles tendon
- Custom functional foot orthosis (1 pair) – controls rearfoot pronation
- Patented “Richie ArchLock” – offloads the medial-central band of the plantar fascia
ACHILLES OFFLOADING SYSTEM
- Offloads Achilles
- Graduated 20mm heel wedges – 2 layers of 10mm
PLANTAR FASCIA OFFLOADING SYSTEM
- Offloads plantar fascia
- Graduated 10mm heel wedges
MIDFOOT OFFLOADING SYSTEM
- Offloads unstable midfoot joints
- Carbon fiber footplate with toe rocker offloads dorsiflexion bending movements across the midfoot
- Graduated 10mm heel wedges
DROPFOOT STABILITY SYSTEM
- Restores stability to neurologic patient
- Carbon fiber footplate with toe rocker diminishes dorsiflexion of the MTP’s and engagement of the windlass
CLINICAL INDICATIONS
- Achilles Offloading System
- Tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon
- Post-surgical and non-surgical management of the Achilles tendon rupture
- Plantar Fascia Offloading System
- Severe recalcitrant plantar heel pain syndrome
- Midfoot Offloading System
- Treatment of sprain of the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints
- Treatment of degenerative arthritis of the midfoot joints
- Dropfoot Stability System
- Neurologic conditions resulting in foot drop or loss of posterior lower leg muscle strength
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
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.
Now, an innovative alternative can circumvent all of these negative aspects of walking boots while providing new and improved treatment effects on injured structures of the lower extremity. The new 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 redesigned 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
ADVANTAGES OVER WALKING BOOTS
| Richie AeroSpring Bracing System | Walking Boot |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | Heavy |
| No leg length discrepancy | Significant limb length discrepancy |
| Near-normal gait | Significant gait disturbance |
| Patient can drive car | Patient cannot drive car |
| Minimal balance compromise | Significant balance compromise |
| 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 |
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 an even more 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.