The Step-Smart® is a low profile, light weight, energy efficient brace that is a favourite of Drop Foot sufferers who want to maintain a natural gait and flexibility in their ankle and toes. BioMechanically, the Step-Smart® design is more energy efficient than the competitive designs. It's more desirable than the stiff design, since it allows for good plantarflexion at heel strike. It's more desirable than the flexible designs, since it is preloaded. The benefit of a preload on the system is critical to shock absorption. Also, the Dorsi Flexion assist joints allows the best clearance at swing phase.
With drop foot, however, it is not desirable to have a design with free plantarflexion. Naturally, our bodies control the deceleration at heel strike with an eccentric contraction of the dorsiflexors. This combined with a slight flexion moment at the knee is what creates the best shock absorption. With other flexible solutions, there is too much plantarflexion at heel strike causing foot slap. The result is trauma and pain to the calcaneous.
The reason that the Step-Smart® design is superior to the others is that it provides resistance to plantarflexion the instant the heel hits the ground. Some other designs need to be plantarflexed before the resistance is high enough to be effective. By then it is too late. The shock of hitting the ground has already damaged the foot and ankle. The new Step-Smart® provides a pre-load that controls deceleration at contact.
Features:
• Regain ankle action with patented Jacob Joints
• 0.2m plate retains feeling and flexibility in toes (allows for easy walking on inclines)
• Designed for clearance on swing phase
• Engineered to handle shock absorption at heel strike
• Compression Components (bumpers) allow individualised resistance adjustments. Green=least resistance; Amber=mid level; Black=greatest resistance
Large/X-Large: Women's 7-12; Men's 5½-10½
Brand: Step-Smart
Dimensions: 25.4 x 11.4 x 22.9 centimeters (0.29 kg)
Most items can be returned within 30 days of the item being shipped, provided it is in new, resalable condition.
Items can be returned after the 30 day period in compliance with the relevant consumer legislation if the item is faulty or damaged.
Fishpond Retail Limited are unable to accept Perfumes, cosmetics CDs, DVDs, games or software as returns, unless the goods are faulty or factory sealed and unopened.
If an order is damaged in transit, Fishpond Retail Limited will be happy to replace your items at no cost.
For damaged items shipped to you in the last 30 days please contact us via My Deal Help Centre.
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure