• There is 6.25" between the inside of the Aluminum side rails to accommodate a boot or cast. You can remove one or both shin pads to create more space for the boot or cast if needed.

(Watch Video)

• Pre-Surgery Brace Practice

  Ideally purchase the brace 2 weeks before surgery and practice everyday to gain confidence and have time to troubleshoot any issues. Limit practice time in the beginning to 10 minutes to reduce fatigue or possible frustration.

• Mobility Aid

  Use an aid like a cane, crutch or countertop to keep you stable and feeling safe.

• Weight Transfer Practice: (Watch Video)

  Shift weight forward onto the brace and feel weight transferring to the back of the thigh. Repeat this forward and back motion.

• Maintain Upright Posture

  Maintaining an upright posture will help you shift your weight to the back of the thigh and keep the base from dragging on the ground.

• Short Steps and Muscle Memory: (Watch Video)

  Take short steps, slightly lifting at the hip to clear the brace from the ground. Feel the weight transfer to the back of the thigh on each step.

• Sitting into the Freedom Leg with Knee Bent

  The key to using the brace is convincing your brain to let the leg stay bent as you sit down on the brace allowing the weight to transfer to the back of the thigh.

If you have or expect the foot to be cast pointing down:

• Step 1: Provide extra length when installing the base so you will still have clearance of the toe of the ground.
• Step 2: Lower the hip on the brace side by adjusting the "Hip Height" straps as shown in the "Adjusting straps to level hips" video.

• The brace will work with below the knee amputees. It does not work for above the knee amputees. Give us a call and we can customize the brace at no extra cost. The Freedom Leg can be of great benefit before you are fitted with your prosthetic to maintain strength in the leg and learn to ambulate. It is also very beneficial long term to allow walking without the prosthetic to give the end of the residual limb a break from the pressure.

• We don't recommend it because there is a chance it would interfere with the pedals, but if there is enough room in the footwell of the vehicle and the door opening is large enough it is possible. The best method is to back up to the driver seat and sit down with your legs sticking out. Remove the Freedom Leg and sit it in the passenger seat. You can then rotate your legs into the vehicle. You reverse the process to get out.

• Partial weight bearing is a great use for the brace. It is a safe way to ease back into weight bearing on the injured leg. You can shorten the brace by one adjustment hole to allow some pressure on the bottom of the foot. You may need to make a hip height adjustment to decrease the bend in your knee so your hips will remain level.

• Always pause at the top of stairs. Practice on stairs with handrails first.
• Ascending (Going Up):
  • Lead with the good leg.
  • Bring the brace leg up to the same step.
  • Be careful to clear the step with the Freedom Leg.
• Descending (Going Down):
  • Lead with the Freedom Leg.
  • Bring the good leg down to the same step.

• Solution 1: Ensure the knee is staying comfortably bent, and the leg is not trying to straighten allowing the you to sit down on the brace as the brace-side leg is swung.
• Solution 2: Lift the brace-side hip slightly so the brace clears the ground OR swing the brace leg to the outside for clearance.
• Solution 3 (Length Adjustment):
  • Condition: If Solution 1 or 2 doesn't work.
  • Condition: If there is more than an inch under the foot when fully weighted.
  • Action: Shorten the brace by one set of holes.
• Solution 4: Adjust the brace to lower the hip (refer to "Adjusting straps to level hips" video).

• Solution 1: Ensure the knee is staying comfortably bent, and the leg is not trying to straighten allowing the user to sit down on the brace as the brace-side leg is swung.
• Solution 2: Adjust the brace to lower the hip (refer to "Adjusting straps to level hips" video).
• Solution 3 (Length Adjustment):
  • Condition: If there is more than an inch under the foot when fully weighted.
  • Action: Shorten the brace by one set of holes.

Cause: The leg tries to straighten as you take a step, putting pressure on the lower edge of the thigh cuff at the back of the knee.

• Solution 1 (Behavioral Correction): The pressure serves as a reminder to let the leg stay bent and sit down on the brace.
• Solution 2 (Padding): If pressure continues, lay a washcloth in the thigh cuff where pressure is felt for additional padding until the leg relaxes and stays bent.

Cause: The leg tries to straighten as you take a step, putting significant pressure on the shin.

• Solution 1 (Behavioral Correction): The pressure serves as a reminder to let the leg stay bent and sit down on the brace.
• Solution 2 (Padding): If pressure continues, lay a washcloth on the shin pad where pressure is felt for additional padding until the leg relaxes and stays bent.

Cause: This is normal! You are using your leg muscles differently.

• Solution (Pacing): Do not overdo it. Initially, use the brace for short periods, then take a break.
• Progression: Within a few days you can increase your time in the brace. Within a week or so you can wear it all day.

Cause: This is a normal part of the learning process.

• Solution (Pacing/Support): Continue to use a walking aid until you gain confidence in all walking conditions.
• Benefit of Walking Aid: Helps to quiet the brain, allowing the user to relax and develop a smooth and consistent walking sequence.

Cause: Some vertical motion of the leg in the brace is always present as weight is put into the brace.

• Important Condition: When the brace is fully supporting your weight, there must still be a small gap between the bottom of your foot and the ground.
• Progression/Solution: The vertical motion will reduce as you learn to sit back on the brace with your leg relaxed and knee bent.

• Solution 1 (Behavioral Correction): Ensure the knee is staying comfortably bent and you are sitting down on the brace, not trying to straighten the leg.
  • Cause (If Solution 1 not applied): If the leg straightens, the leg will slide down in the brace.
• Solution 2 (Length Adjustment):
  • Condition: If you are walking properly but the foot still touches, increase the length of the brace by one hole.
  • Post-Adjustment Check: After increasing the length, ensure hips are still level.
  • Post-Adjustment Correction (if needed): If hips are not level, increase the bend in the knee by adjusting the straps to reduce the hip height (refer to the "Hip Leveling" section for detailed instructions).

• Solution 1 (Behavioral Correction): Ensure the knee is staying comfortably bent and you are sitting down on the brace. The leg is not trying to straighten.
  • Cause: If the leg straightens, the brace will slide up the thigh.
• Solution 2 (Brace attachment):
  • Attach the upper brace lower on the thigh to create more distance from the top of the brace to your groin.
  • Post-Adjustment Check: After lowering the position, ensure hips are still level.
  • Post-Adjustment Correction (if needed): If hips are not level, increase the bend in the knee by adjusting the straps to reduce the hip height (refer to the "Hip Leveling" section for detailed instructions).