How do I get an appointment?
When your appointment has been made we'll send you a letter telling you where and when to come. We'll also send you a text reminder if we have your mobile phone number.
Information about knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) rehabilitation appointments
Rehabilitation sessions
This information will be relevant to you if you have been asked to attend the Evelina London Children’s Hospital for some rehabilitation sessions to teach you how to use your KAFOs after surgery.
Before your hospital stay please continue with any ankle, knee and hip stretches that you have been given in order to give you the best possible start to the sessions.
Benefits of your child having KAFOs
KAFOs can help your child stand safely for longer and improve their stepping ability if they're finding independent walking difficult. They also stretch the lower limb muscles.
What to bring with you
- Your KAFOs and your AFOs
- Comfortable shorts and socks
- Your hoist sling
- Cheap trainers that fit over your child's KAFOs (1 to 2 sizes bigger than their normal size). It is a good idea to bring 2 pairs of different sizes to try, don’t remove the tags so any that don't fit can be returned to the shop
- Schoolwork
- Snacks
- A drink bottle for your sessions
During your ward stay
Please note that there is no parking available for your stay at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
We'll see you the day of, or the day after your surgery to be fitted for your KAFOs. We'll let you know the schedule of your sessions each morning, and you'll have 2 sessions each day.
In between sessions we advise you to help your child sit out in their wheelchair, rather than spending all their time in bed. You can explore the hospital or get some fresh air outside. Ideally they'll have either their KAFOs or AFOs on to maintain their ankle range of movement.
Your child's stay on the ward includes meals for them but not for parents or carers. There is a fridge and microwave available for you to use.
During term-time the hospital school is available and attendance is recommended between physiotherapy sessions, but please bring some schoolwork with you.
Aims of the week
We aim for your child to be able to:
- stand comfortably in their KAFOs
- step forwards, backwards and sideways in their KAFOs
- change direction in their KAFOs
- start and stop in their KAFOs
- confidently stand up and sit down while wearing their KAFOs
- walk 10 metres in their KAFOs
After your child leaves hospital
It is important that your child continues to use their KAFOs as practiced in the rehabilitation sessions. If you have any concerns regarding the KAFOs you can contact the neuromuscular physiotherapy team.