An outside-the-shoe foot drop brace can effectively manage foot drop symptoms without the disadvantages that come with wearing a traditional hard plastic AFO. The SaeboStep is an example of a foot drop brace or soft AFO that allows survivors to walk comfortably enough to get back to doing the activities they love – while wearing the shoes they already have! Your foot drop solution shouldn’t slow you down. The SaeboStep is a soft ankle brace that can help you walk more effectively and return to an active daily lifestyle.
Primitive or Traditional Ankle Foot Orthoses (or AFOs) can cause a variety of challenges for survivors experiencing foot drop. Often times they are bulky, hard to wear, restrictive, and difficult to walk in. While AFOs can be partially or fully covered by insurance, they still come at a higher cost to the patient since professional help from a clinician is required to be fitted for one. This entails exams, gait analysis, casting, and the price of the device itself, which all get billed to the insurance company. This leaves the patient with some out-of-pocket costs, typically around a few hundred dollars.
Not only are AFOs expensive, but the in-shoe design also means most people wearing them have to buy additional shoes to accommodate the device, which only adds to the expense (and results in one wasted shoe per pair!).
After all the hassle of getting fitted for an AFO, foot drop patients are left with an uncomfortable solution that can cause pain, blisters, sores and a variety of other issues that come with wearing a rigid plastic device inside the shoe.
| Benefits | SaeboStep | Traditional AFOs |
| Improves gait function | ||
| Helps moderate-to-severe spasticity | ||
| Made of rigid material | ||
| May reduce knee hyperextension | ||
| Improves motor control in the foot/ankle | ||
| Can be applied/adjusted one-handed | ||
| Active lifestyle friendly | ||
| Can be worn with nearly all footwear, including sandals | ||
| Doesn’t require two different shoe sizes | ||
| Prevents muscle atrophy | ||
| Priced under $150 | ||
| 30-day money back guarantee |
Yes, the SaeboStep can be worn with almost any kind of shoe – including sandals! Order the accessory kit to install eyelets on your favorite shoes.
The SaeboStep is not designed to sufficiently support and stabilize the ankle if it is completely flaccid or loose or if you have spasticity. Contact us to learn how you can combine your SaeboStep with an elastic ankle strap to provide more support and stability.
Yes, the SaeboStep was not designed with solely stroke and TBI (traumatic brain injury) survivors in mind. The SaeboStep can help patients with a wide variety of conditions manage their foot drop, such as diabetes/neuropathy and MS.
The SaeboStep ankle strap can comfortably fit an ankle circumference between 6.5 inches and 11 inches. For ankles with a circumference larger than 11 inches, we offer an extender piece that can be attached to the device for a wider fit. For ankles on the smaller side, we recommend this trick for a more secure fit.
The SaeboStep Cord is made from a very high molecular density form of polyethylene which makes it the most long-lasting option for this foot drop brace. Under normal conditions and regular use, you can expect the cord to last at least a year. When the cords on your SaeboStep wear out, you can replace them by ordering the SaeboStep Replacement Cord Kit.
Absolutely! Many patients suffering from bilateral foot drop will use the SaeboStep successfully. If you suffer from foot drop in both feet, you can wear a SaeboStep on each foot to help you walk better
Sometimes customers can get insurance companies to cover the SaeboStep but based on our experience this can result in higher out-of-pocket costs and prolong the time it takes to get you the device. Because of this, we try to keep our products as affordable as possible. We have refurbished products, payment plans, and financial assistance available. Give us a call at (888) 284-5433 to discuss your options.