proprio AFO Spring

More control, more dynamics, more freedom of treatment.

Orthoses today have to do more than provide stability. They should enable movement, return energy, and adapt flexibly to different patient needs. This is exactly where the new 3D-printed Spring comes in: 

For the first time, a proprio AFO combines targeted spring dynamics with controlled guidance across all three rocker phases – for visibly smoother movements and a more natural gait development.

Thanks to the replaceable Spring Unit, fine adjustment reaches a new level. You can test, adapt, and optimize the setup without needing to produce a new orthosis. 

Core idea

• Fully 3D-printed, replaceable spring (strut): Stiffness and pre-tension can be adjusted during the fitting or throughout the course of treatment. 
• Adjustable tibial inclination & foot rotation: Shims/wedges allow fast angle adjustments (dorsiflexion/plantarflexion) without the need for a new device. 
• Footplate tuning: Select the desired forefoot stiffness to modulate rollover characteristics and propulsion. 
• Modular set :Different spring stiffness options included, quick to swap in practice — delivering “full dynamics, full control” throughout the entire treatment period. 

Biomechanics across the three rockers 

• 1st rocker (heel → foot flat): The spring controlledly slows plantarflexion — functionally analogous to the eccentric action of the tibialis anterior. 
• 2nd rocker (tibial forward progression): A calibrated resistance to tibial progression supports knee extension in mid-/terminal stance (functionally similar to the gastro-soleus complex). 
• 3rd rocker (forefoot lever/propulsion): The combination of spring deformation and footplate stiffness enables elastic rebound and a more efficient step-to-step transition. 

Indications & clinical scenarios 

• Crouch gait:Supports control of tibial forward progression and terminal hip extension without “cutting off” the kinematics. 
• Toe walking:Start with a higher stiffness level, then gradually step down the spring stiffness — up to a functional trial without a strut (transitioning toward an SMO-type logic). 
• Spina bifida / FES-adjacent scenarios:The minimal, permitted motion improves proprioception and everyday standing stability. 
• Growth, tone, spasticity:Adjustability helps compensate for growth spurts, weight changes, or day-to-day fluctuations due to spasticity — without requiring a new device. 

Technical manufacturing highlights 

• Fitting as tuning: Keep struts in different stiffness levels on hand, plus shims (e.g., 0°/3°/5°) for tibial inclination. Plan the footplate stiffness one step “stiffer” than in classic AFOs, because it mechanically interacts with the spring. 
• Input data : In many cases, measurements work very well; for fixed deformities (e.g., a non-correctable hindfoot position), a cast/scan is preferred. 
• Service-friendly : – Spring replacement and angle tuning without remanufacturing — ideal for follow-up checks, growth phases, and therapy adjustments. 

With the Spring, orthotics gains what prosthetics has long been able to offer: fine-tuning instead of fixed decisions. For patients, this means a more natural gait, less effort, and a noticeably better feeling of movement. For the workshop, it means faster adjustments, fewer remakes, and greater control over the outcome.