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2.QUESTIONS ABOUT the DORSI-STRAP™ and the DORSI-STRAP PRO™ for FOOT DROP
CLICK ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED
- WHAT IS THE DORSI-STRAP™? HOW DOES IT WORK?
- WHAT FEATURES DOES THE DORSI-STRAP™ OFFER?
- WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STANDARD DORSI-STRAP™ AND THE PRO?
- WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ FIT ME?
- WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ WORK FOR ME?
- WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ BE COMFORTABLE TO USE?
- WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ WORK FOR ME ON STAIRS, OR WHEN DRIVING?
- I HAVE ANKLE INSTABILITY and FOOT DROP. WILL IT WORK FOR ME?
- CAN THE DORSI-STRAP™ BE USED WITH SHOES THAT DO NOT HAVE LACE HOLES?
- SHOULD I GET ADDITIONAL STRAPS FOR MY DORSI-STRAP™ OR DORSI-STRAP™ PRO?
- CAN THE DORSI-STRAP™ BE APPLIED WITH ONE HAND?
- WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DORSI-STRAP™ AND A REGULAR AFO?
- WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DORSI-STRAP™ AND THE FOOTFLEXR?
- WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DORSI-STRAP™ AND THE FOOT-UP BRACE?
- HOW DO I PUT THE DORSI-STRAP™ ON TO GET THE BEST RESULTS?
- HOW LONG WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ LAST?
Click here to contact us if your question is not addressed above
I HAVE ANKLE INSTABILITY IN ADDITION TO THE FOOT DROP. WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ WORK FOR ME?
NOT BY ITSELF.
The Dorsi-Strap™ is made to provide foot drop support (dorsi-flexion) ONLY. It is not meant to provide support against movement of the foot in any other direction, and does not interfere with any natural ankle/foot mobility.
However, we also make a device that is specifically designed to control lateral or medial ankle instability. It’s called the Sprain-Guard™ for Ankles, and has been patented in 4 countries, and it’s been working perfectly for over 20 years.
The good news is that the Dorsi-Strap™ and the Sprain-Guard™ work together, to assist people that suffer with both foot drop and with ankle instability concurrently.
At this time these devices are shown independently in this website, feel free to call us at (914) 968-3381, for additional information about using these devices together.
Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™
Click here to see the SPRAIN-GUARD™
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DORSI-STRAP™ AND A TYPICAL AFO?
A typical AFO for treating foot drop is L-shaped, and made of metal and/or plastic. The bottom end is worn inside the shoe, forming a platform under the foot, while the other end is strapped to the back of the leg, near the knee.
Typically, these devices are heavy, hot and uncomfortable, and require an oversized shoe for the affected foot. They do not allow the foot and ankle joint to move naturally, and precipitate problems such as atrophy of the leg muscles, blistering, callusing, and cramping. An unnatural gait, often caused by having to walk on the AFO’s stiff foot platform and/or the weight of the device, puts unusual stresses on the foot, ankle, knee, hips and the back, and unfavorably affects posture and balance.
Typical AFOs can also be expensive, custom-made from a mold of the foot/leg, and require extensive fittings, and lots of waiting. They may also be cumbersome to get in and out of, and to adjust.
Many users discontinue wearing them, due to the discomfort that is often experienced.
The Dorsi-Strap™ and the Dorsi-Strap™ PRO are lightweight, made of all-flexible, cool and breathable components, and are used with your own regular shoes. Either Dorsi-Strap™ permits full, normal ankle joint mobility, providing a natural gait and step-off, and helping to improve balance. They’re also great on stairs, and for driving.
The Dorsi-Strap™ is also inexpensive, long-lasting, and washable. It is put on, adjusted and removed in seconds, and can be managed by many people who can only use one hand.
No impressions, no customization, and no fittings are required with the Dorsi-Strap™.
The Dorsi-Strap™ is happily accepted by nearly 95% of the people that purchase it.Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™
Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™ PRO
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DORSI-STRAP™ AND THE FOOTFLEXR?
The FootFlexr is marketed as a device to help lift a runner's forefoot while in training. According to the people that sell it, it “attaches to shoe to teach proper running technique and increase speed”.
The FootFlexr is NOT manufactured for the foot-dropped audience, and is not sold that way.
The FootFlexr’s elastic band would put constant pressure against the back of the leg, near the Achilles tendon. This might cause discomfort, especially with extended usage. But, honestly, we haven’t tried it out.
The objective of the Dorsi-Strap™ is to minimize the effects on ones’ lifestyle because of a foot drop condition. To that end, we believe that the Dorsi-Strap™ offers the best combination of support, comfort and ankle joint mobility. It's great for walking, stairs, driving, and a lot more. The Dorsi-Strap™ PRO, which provides the same support as the standard Dorsi-Strap™, allows the user to participate in many daily work, leisure, and sports activities that are more vigorous than walking, without requiring special or over-sized shoes.
Using the Dorsi-Strap™ almost feels like not wearing a device at all, and it has significant benefits over ALL the other available products for foot drop. The Dorsi-Strap™ is small, and does not look “orthopedic”, and it is one of the lowest priced foot drop solutions, to boot!
Click here to see the Dorsi-Strap’s™ impressive list of features.
Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™
Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™ PRO
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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DORSI-STRAP™ AND THE FOOT-UP BRACE?
The Foot-Up ankle brace uses a bulky-looking fabric cuff, worn around the ankle, which attaches to one end of a “powerful” elastic strap. The other end of the elastic strap connects to a stiff plastic component that is connected to the shoe, between the tongue and the shoe’s laces, inside the shoe. It is designed assist the ankle with dorsiflexion in order to achieve toe clearance during walking, and the manufacturer recommends it be used only for mild to moderate cases of foot drop, where the patient can assist with dorsiflexion of the ankle.
The proper size Foot-Up must be selected, depending on the user’s foot size (only medium and large size feet are accommodated), and there is no indication from the manufacturer whether the Foot-Up can be used with anything except regular-height lace-up shoes.
The Foot-Up comes in black only, and costs well in excess of $100 each.
We wonder whether the Foot-Up places any undue pressure against the Achilles tendon, at the back of the leg, and whether the “powerful” elastic strap that connects the device’s cuff to the shoe would be annoying, possibly even causing discomfort, especially during long-term use.
With the ultra-low-profile Dorsi-Strap™, nothing is placed into the shoe! All components are small, lightweight, and flexible, and all connections are made instantly with Velcro®. The Dorsi-Strap™ provides comfortable, natural walking in street shoes, while the heavier-duty Dorsi-Strap™ PRO works beautifully with street shoes and with athletic, recreational and work shoes, and lace-up boots.
Both the standard Dorsi-Strap™ and the PRO can be also used with most shoes that do not have shoelaces, such as sandals and shoes with Velcro® straps, while the PRO can be used for many activities that are more vigorous than walking, such as working, exercising, hiking, athletics, working out, golfing, etc.
The Dorsi-Strap™ works equally well for users that have mild through severe degrees of foot drop, and users are never required to provide any assist with dorsiflexion of the ankle. How could they, we wonder?
The Dorsi-Strap™ and the PRO are available in white, black and brown, to match shoe colors, in order to be less obvious while in use.
The prices of the standard Dorsi-Strap™ and for Dorsi-Strap™ PRO are less than half of what the Foot-Up costs. Our shipping charges are also lower.
Click here to see the Dorsi-Strap’s™ impressive list of features.
Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™
Click here to see the DORSI-STRAP™ PRO
Click here to see “USING THE DORSI-STRAP™ WITH SHOES THAT DO NOT HAVE LACE HOLES”
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CAN THE DORSI-STRAP™ BE APPLIED WITH ONE HAND?
IN MANY CASES!
The Dorsi-Strap™ for Foot Drop and the Dorsi-Strap™ PRO are being used successfully by many people that have limited use of one hand, or arm.
The Dorsi-Strap’s two straps need to be laced into the shoe's lace holes, and tied together. This is a 2-hand process that is done ONE TIME. Once installed, the straps can be left in the shoe for repeated use.
After the straps are installed into the shoe’s lace holes, the remaining connections (putting the cuff around the ankle, and applying the straps around the cuff) are made with Velcro®, and can be done by most people with one functioning hand, in a sitting position, with some practice.
SHOULD I GET ADDITIONAL STRAPS FOR MY DORSI-STRAP™ or DORSI-STRAP™ PRO?
The Straps that come with the standard Dorsi-Strap™ and with the Dorsi-Strap™ PRO are laced into your shoe’s lace holes. This is quick and easy for most people to do.
Many Dorsi-Strap™ users, however, prefer not to move the Straps from one shoe to another when changing shoes. Individuals that have difficulty lacing the Straps into their shoes, frequently have Dorsi-Strap™ Straps in each pair of shoes that they use regularly.
Also, please remember, the Dorsi-Strap™ Straps perform a very difficult and important job for you. Even though they are very durable, they are made out of materials that will eventually show wear, and then wear out. At some point in time, you will have to replace them with new Straps.
Additional Straps, available in white, black or brown, for both the standard Dorsi-Strap™ and for the Dorsi-Strap™ PRO, are inexpensive, can be purchased without the Cuff, and enable you to use the same Cuff with more than one set of Straps. This is convenient, and saves money over buying additional complete Dorsi-Straps™.
We recommend that you keep a spare set of straps around…….just in case! It’s cheap insurance!
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CAN THE DORSI-STRAP™ BE USED WITH SHOES THAT DO NOT HAVE LACE HOLES?
IN MANY CASES!
Every Dorsi-Strap™, whether it's the standard model for walking, or the heavy-duty PRO model for more active people, comes with easy-to-follow, illustrated, step-by-step instructions that describe where a couple of holes can be punched into the shoe's straps, or into the shoe's upper, in order to install the Dorsi-Strap™.
Punching the holes can be accomplished safely by most people, using a leather punch, or it can be done inexpensively by any shoemaker, once the locations of the holes have been marked on the shoe by following our Instructions.
The Dorsi-Strap™ can be integrated this way with many shoes that do not have lace holes.
Click here to see “USING THE DORSI-STRAP™ WITH SHOES THAT DO NOT HAVE LACE HOLES”
HOW LONG WILL THE DORSI-STRAP™ LAST?
Under normal circumstance, many people can continue to use their Dorsi-Strap for as long as a year, or possibly even longer. The heavier-duty Dorsi-Strap™ PRO will normally last longer than the standard Dorsi-Strap™.
Longevity, however, is directly determined by the individual user, and cannot be guaranteed on a case-by-case basis. Time has shown that you will get your money’s worth. And, of course, don’t forget our 90-day, free parts replacement warranty, as a minimum.
Low-cost replacement straps and cuffs are available optionally, in white, black or brown, for both the Dorsi-Strap™ and the Dorsi-Strap™ PRO.
The Dorsi-Strap’s™ components are washable.