Foot Drop & the XTERN External AFO

What foot drop feels like

Foot drop makes it hard to lift the front of the foot. The toes catch the ground as you walk, so you trip, or you compensate by swinging the leg or lifting the knee higher than usual. It can follow a stroke, a nerve injury, surgery, or conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.

Left unsupported, many people quietly do less over time. They walk less, avoid uneven ground, worry about falls, and lose confidence and strength as a result. The point of the right brace is to interrupt that slide and keep you moving.

The XTERN: a different kind of brace

Most ankle-foot orthoses sit inside the shoe, against the leg. The XTERN, made by TurboMed, is an external AFO. It attaches to the outside of your shoe and works like a spring-assisted exoskeleton, helping lift your foot with each step.

For the right person, that outside-the-shoe design can mean:

• Less pressure and rubbing on the shin and ankle
• A more natural, flexible feel through the stride
• Compatibility with everyday shoes, boots, and steel cap work boots
• Freedom to stay active, from walking and tramping through to sport

The XTERN is one of several options. Whether it is the right one for you is exactly what an assessment is for. Our philosophy is to prescribe the least restrictive device that gives a real improvement in mobility, safety, and quality of life.

How our assessment works

Every person with foot drop walks differently. That's why every prescription begins with an assessment—not an online checkout. You can see us in person in Masterton, or access our Virtual Foot Drop Clinic from anywhere in New Zealand.

Book an assessment online →

Funding: ACC may help

Cost is usually the first question, and it is a fair one. Where your foot drop follows an injury, ACC may contribute towards the cost of an AFO when the eligibility criteria are met. We will talk through what is likely to apply to you as part of your assessment, so you know where you stand before anything is fitted.

Why Masterton Foot Clinic

Mobility and foot drop management is a particular area of interest for our clinic. Over many years we have worked with people living with foot drop, Multiple Sclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, stroke, peroneal nerve injuries, and age-related mobility decline, helping them stay active and independent.

We prescribe a full range of devices, from simple foot drop supports through to advanced external and custom AFO systems, and where it helps, we work alongside physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and medical specialists. You are assessed and fitted here in the Wairarapa by people who will still be here for the follow-up.

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