Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis

A lower-limb orthosis that spans the knee, ankle, and foot to provide weight-bearing support and prevent knee buckling or hyperextension in people with significant leg weakness or paralysis - commonly due to stroke, spinal cord injury, post-polio syndrome, or muscular dystrophy. Traditional static KAFOs lock the knee in full extension throughout the gait cycle, forcing compensatory gaits such as hip hiking or circumduction; stance-control KAFOs unlock the knee during swing to allow more natural walking. Abandonment rates for static KAFOs are reported at 58-79%, largely due to weight, unnatural gait, and appearance.