Step-Smart Drop Foot Brace/AFO, Adjustable Foot Drop Brace for Walking with Shoes or Running (Left Foot - Small/Medium), Made in the U.S.A. by Insightful Products

Not sure where to start but my wife developed foot drop after a hip surgery. The orthopedic brace that was prescribed worked well as, what I would call, a first degree brace. There was no foot mobility or flexure but it offered stability while improving basic walking skill. Luckily, the brace broke and the break location indicated that my wife was flexing her foot and arch more than the brace would allow. We tried 3 other brace types, both less and more expensive, and none worked any better until we tried the Step-Smart Foot Brace. The three levels of tension inserts are a simple and excellent advantage. My wife is now on the strongest level, walking mostly without a cane and feels that her foot and ankle are stronger because of this brace. Even her orthopedic surgeon was impressed with her improvement.If your foot drop condition is improvable or you want to see if it can improve, I would recommend this brace. And the price is reasonable considering others can cost close to $1000.

I had full left hip replacement in Dec 2021, after waking up from surgery I discovered my left foot had foot drop.In the last 7 months I have tried 5 different daytime braces, and this is by far the best because it is dynamic and works with my foot/leg perfectly.I read all the reviews and noticed that others got blisters, I did too but it happened with all the braces. Understanding that your body weight, gate and compensation to your normal step will make getting used to any brace is going to happen. All braces help your Dorsey flexing and push your toes forward and up, in hopes you don’t trip and fall. This new “position “ is off enough from your original position that the toe bones and pads are hitting in different tender spots typically not used to being directly stepped on. This takes time and getting used to.I personally love this brace, as much as I hated having to wear it, and getting used to it was no different that any other medication conditions where we make adjustments to the way we used do things. I can walk almost 100% normally with it on, I don’t trip, fall or feel unstable at all.

I so wanted this to be an alternative to the custom made AFO I’ve had for years. I was looking for something a little less bulky. I never had any delusions this would be equal to the custom AFO I have.I read the pamphlet that came with it and followed the instructions. After only an hour the pressure on the back of my calf was very uncomfortable, the open heel caused my ankle bone to rub on the edge and hurt and my arch area hurts from the platform pushing on it. Besides those issues is the cost for the quality. The strap that goes around your calf is a stretchy soft band, that’s the only thing I liked, the band is held to the device by a piece of super sticky backed Velcro which could pull off and the only thing holding the calf and foot pieces together is the material that lines the inside of the calf piece. Do waste your time or money on an overly priced piece of junk.

My grandma was suffering from drop foot after a botched hernia surgery and was really having trouble getting around. This product has improved her quality of life dramatically. She instantly loved the feel and comfort of the device with no time needed to "get used to it". She had been using one these braces before and didn't like it so maybe that had an effect on her liking it so much immediately: https://nicershoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Foot-Drop.jpgThe only reason I'm giving this product 4 stars is because of the price. I understand that this is a patented design and maybe a lot of work went into it. But that doesn't justify the 200$ price tag in my opinion. Especially since the materials used in this device are just regular plastic and glue. If it was carbon-fiber or something I would totally understand why it was priced so high. Since it's just plastic, I will update my review if my grandmother experiences any issues with it down the road. So far she's been using it without any issues (4-5 hours a day) for a month now.

This is my second brace that I purchased from here. Then first one I would give 5 stars. It fit my foot better and I had it for a good three years, worn everyday (as a nurse), before it got so worn down that it snapped where one of the screws in the back was. I purchased this new one, which is a new design one year ago. I've been threw 4 pairs of new sneakers trying to accommodate this new one. It seems wider than the first one and the velcro on the strap doesn't stick as well. I'm constantly adjusting it. Also, although I got the same size as the first brace, this one doesn't fit my ankle as well and the plastic rubs on it. I currently have a blister from it. Unfortunately, my brace just broke again in a shorter amount of time than the first one and with less wear and tear on it. I'm currently looking for another brace as this new design doesn't first properly, cuts/rubs my ankle, and is very painful. For the price of this AFO it is not worth it.

I use this product daily at work as I am on my feet most of the day. I have Primary Progressive MS & have drop foot. I was a tad skeptical about this product at first. I did LOTS of research to find a product that would suit my needs as I despise being inactive & other drop foot braces out there do not allow your ankle to bend freely as you squat down. I think I viewed all of their YouTube videos at least twice. It took a little while, but after trying combinations of the different included tensors, as well as talking/emailing with the ever-so-helpful & prompt responses of their support team, I was inevitably able to get a proper fit.Keep in mind that this will have to be worn with footwear & you’ll likely be taking the insole out of the shoe you don this brace in. The only thing that disappointed me abou this product was that I couldn’t wear it with my hi-top Converse sneakers anymore. But that’s a small price to pay for how well this brace functions.It’s possible you might need an added insole to your opposite, unbraced foot to help balance you out. Insightful Products offered such an item, but you could also find something to help at your local drugstore/supermarket.I did have another small gripe about the brace, but I have remedied this issue through a small bit of creative ingenuity, which I am going to submit to the company to see if they’ll include along with their product’s options.All-in-all: great product, versatile, & awesome support team! I highly recommend it.

I have had several braces. As a woman, I would like some less noticeable. Almost all of the pictures are of men in slacks, not women in dresses or shorts. The foot plate dug into my instep.The articulation is nice. You will require a shoe that is large enough to accommodate the brace which means that the other shoe will be larger on the other foot. Decent price point and returns are available. Still on the search for the right device for me.

I have had dropfoot pretty bad for last 2-3 years. Atrophy set in, developed hip pain and developed “duckfoot” from having to swing my leg while walking. This brace has given me new life in just weeks. Not only can i walk 80%normal with it, it’s forcefully making me use those muscles that have atrophy, so I can see a difference when not wearing it too. It takes Some getting used to...it is hard plastic your walking on. I now wear it around 12-14 hours a day with no real discomfort. I glued an insole to it to protect from hard spots. Also ive found it works best with sneakers....So I rock Nikes everyday now lol. It really has improved my mobility and stability. Ive gone from dragging my toe and tripping atleast 20+ times a day to 3-5 now. I THOROUGHLY endorse this brace.

I’ve been using this brace for a few years and it is a life saver. Without it I trip quite a bit, and you can wear normal shoes

Ha ayudado a la forma de caminar más no al pie equino

Probando y tengo grandes expectativas de que cumpla su función ,que marca su cometido

Just received it in the mail, excited to give it a try. I put it on for about an hour and like they said it felt weird but not uncomfortable. Really hope this works for me.

It looks sturdy and high tech stuff. It is not easy to put on I may have to get a pair of oversized shoes. The principle behind it sounds good.Hope I get used to it soon before ordering another one for my right foot.