It took time but I finally found the one. After a lot of frustration, and even a few tears, the Allard Ypsilon entered my life. My orthotist, Jaimie, had been helping me search for the right fit for months. Other AFOs had left my foot sore and numb or simply worsened my symptoms instead of helping. When I slipped my foot into my shoe with the Ypsilon, I knew we were finally on the right track.

The Ypsilon, like all the other AFOs I trialed, is a carbon composite orthosis. Over the years, carbon has become the go-to material for braces. It is lightweight, durable, and provides more energy transfer. Carbon boasts a high weight-to-strength ratio. This quality allows for thinner, lighter devices. Typically, the biggest drawback of a carbon AFO versus a plastic one is its cost. Fortunately, I have good insurance, and the out-of-pocket cost for my new carbon AFO was minimal.

Jaimie felt the Ypsilon Flow would be a good fit for me. Granted I could not run anymore, but I was still pretty active. I was not able to hike as much as I wanted but still found my way into the woods more than the average person. She also felt I would see benefits when using it on the bike. This was important to me and a strong selling point. My bike riding was becoming more limited and I was doing everything in my power to keep pedaling. Extracurricular activities aside, I am on my feet a lot at work. Including dog walks, I average about 16,000 steps a day.

The Ypsilon Flow was made for a more active lifestyle. It has been designed to allow for more range of motion. I was happy when I discovered this. A big worry for AFO wearers is muscle atrophy. An AFO typically prohibits certain movements of the lower leg and ankle joint. Over time, this leads to the unused muscles weakening and shrinking. This is less of a concern with the Ypsilon Flow. I am approaching a year of daily wear and have not noticed any muscle atrophy.

One of the more significant reasons the Ypsilon Flow worked for me was the design of the footplate. The Ypsilon Flow allows for more clearance for the forefoot in the toebox area of the shoe. With other AFOs, my foot was crowded in my shoe and would go numb almost immediately. That was not the case with the Ypsilon Flow. I actually had room to wiggle my toes.

THE “FLOW” BENEFITS

  • Smoother transition (flow) through the gait cycle
  • Increased ROM in sagittal plane
  • Accommodates lower shoe heel heights
  • Accommodates gentler contours of shoe insoles
  • More clearance for forefoot in the shoe toe box
  • Easier to customize to meet alignment and biomechanical needs
https://www.allardusa.com/Allard%20USA/Foot%20Drop%20AFOs/General%20PDFs/Support_for_Better_Life_Booklet_A050.pdf

I took the Allard Ypsilon Flow home with me to trial for two weeks. It was the first AFO I was able to wear for longer than a short trip around the block walking. I was already impressed. I decided to try it out on my indoor cycling trainer. Again, I was impressed. My foot was properly supported through every pedal stroke. I did not have to concentrate on keeping my foot flexed, the AFO did it for me. As long as was wearing the Ypsilon Flow, I was not worried about hyperextending my ankle, as was becoming a frequent issue. My new AFO also had a bonus feature. It helped keep my leg better aligned through each pedal stroke. One of the things that abruptly ends my bike rides is my hip losing strength mid-ride due to multiple sclerosis. When this happens, my knee begins to drift inward as I pedal. This is an issue because improper pedaling form could lead to knee damage and pain. The other issue is banging the inside of my knee against the bike with every pedal stroke. The Ypsilon Flow did not completely prevent this problem, but it did prolong the time I was able to pedal before it became an issue. I was very happy for the extra time the AFO was allowing me to pedal.

The device was functioning so well, I decided to wear it to work. It was the first AFO I had trailed to make it to the end of the work day. I was happy. I was tripping over my own feet a lot less. I was also less fatigued at the end of the day. I would get home from work and keep the Ypsilon Flow to walk the dog. By the end of the day, I would find myself dragging my foot and stumbling. The AFO was a great device for correcting my foot drop, however, there was nothing it could do for my lack of ability to flex my knee and hip. I have had falls while wearing the device, but not one of them could have been prevented by an AFO.

The next test was a hiking trip. Here is where the device really stood out. I loved the extra stability it provided. I am not going to say it is impossible to twist and injure your ankle while wearing the Ypsilon Flow, but it really makes it a lot more difficult to do so. The Ypsilon Flow did the trick. I could hike with no issues until my hip and knee would give out. My Ypsilon Flow has now been hiking with me in several states and countries. My biggest fear is when TSA makes me remove it in airport security and it leaves my sight for a few moments. I can not imagine what any trip would look like if I had to make do without it.

At my follow-up appointment, I happily informed Jaimie that we had finally found the one. She saw how excited I was. She immediately placed an order for a brand-new device and allowed me to keep the office AFO until mine arrived a week later.

In the last year, my Allard Ypsilon Flow has helped me hike through deserts in Death Valley and Joshua Tree. It helped me summit a crater in California and explore caves in Alabama. It has walked down Bourbon Street in New Orleans with me. We climbed to the top of the Monastery in Petra, Jordan together. It has allowed me to pedal miles of old railroad trails in Ohio and West Virginia. It also allowed more miles pedaling around my old Kentucky home than I would have been able to do without it. It has also helped me through grinding work days and being on my feet for countless hours at a time.

If you are currently searching for an AFO, do not give up hope, and do not settle. It took a while to find the right one for me, but I am so glad I did.