Which AFO is used to address knee recurvatum and toe drag during swing?

• A. Molded AFOs
• B. KAFO: Offset joint
• C. AFO: Posterior leaf spring
• D. AFO: metal posterior stop

Answer: (D)

The idea is to control how the ankle moves to influence the knee and the foot during gait. A fixed posterior stop at the ankle limits plantarflexion, especially in late stance and swing. By preventing plantarflexion, it stops the tibia from advancing too far forward, which reduces the tendency for the knee to go into hyperextension (knee recurvatum). It also keeps the foot more dorsiflexed, helping the toes clear the ground during swing to prevent toe drag. The other options either don’t provide this specific posterior constraint, rely mainly on dorsiflexion assistance without preventing plantarflexion, or involve a more complex knee–ankle device not specialized for this dual effect.