Learning About Supra Malleolar Orthosis

What is an SMO Brace?

SMO orthotics are similar to AFO (ankle-foot orthoses), but SMO braces support a smaller area of the foot and ankle, stopping just above the ankle while AFOs extend beyond the ankle to just below the knee. An SMO brace is custom-made using a combination of thermoplastic, carbon fiber, and acrylic to provide the support necessary to treat several different conditions.

Conditions Often Treated by SMO Orthotics

• Hyper Pronation (Flat Feet): A flat foot results from three problems; a weak arch, heel eversion, and toes that point outward. SMO braces apply pressure to all three regions, which helps bring them to their midline.

• Hypermobile Foot or Ankle: A laxity of ligaments that stabilize the ankle leads to an increased range of motion that causes instability when the patient walks. An SMO orthotic provides external stability that keeps the range of motion within healthy limits.

• Hypotonia (Decreased Muscle Tone): Proper muscle tone is vital to developing balance and appropriate gait patterns. An SMO brace will help strengthen these muscles and is particularly helpful for helping with muscle tone.

Using SMO Braces

Wearing the right shoes is an essential component of using SMO orthotics. You may be tempted to size up in order to accommodate the brace, but a shoe that is too large will cause more instability when the patient walks. Instead of choosing a shoe that is too large, look for ones that offer these features:

• Wide or extra-wide sizes
• Deep toe box
• Removable insole
• Large opening for the foot

You want to adjust the user to wearing an SMO brace gradually, so we recommend the following five-day timeline when beginning to wear SMO orthotics:

• On the first day of use, wear their SMO orthotic for one hour
• On the second day, increase the time to one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• The third day will include four hours of SMO orthotic use; two in the morning and two later in the day
• On day four, increase the amount of time to three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon for a total of six hours.
• Assuming the user tolerates the SMO orthotic well, you can increase the wear time to eight hours on day five, split into two increments of four hours.

Contact Us

If your doctor or pediatrician has suggested SMO braces as a tool for healthy development, Durrett’s Orthotics & Prosthetics is ready to provide you with all the information and support you need. We offer various services for all ages. Contact us at (859) 341-7688 to schedule an evaluation.

Durrett’s Orthotics & Prosthetics has locations in Edgewood, KY, and Lawrenceburg, IN. We proudly serve Erlanger, Florence, Covington, Fort Thomas, Union, Walton, Edgewood, Oakbrook, Taylorsport, Fort Mitchell, Hebron, Beaverlick, Burlington, Belleview, Independence, Newport, Verona, Elsmere, KY, and Cincinnati, OH.