AFO
Pronunciation: A-F-O (spell out)
Also written as: AFO — Ankle–Foot Orthosis
Abbreviation for Ankle–Foot Orthosis; an external brace spanning the ankle and foot used to correct foot drop and stabilise gait in patients with lower-limb neurological impairment.
Full Definition
AFO is the universally recognized clinical abbreviation for ankle–foot orthosis, appearing frequently in physiotherapy progress notes, rehabilitation plans, and discharge summaries within geriatric rehabilitation. The acronym requires expansion on first use in formal documents. In allied health documentation, AFO without expansion is acceptable in progress notes where context is clear. Editors should ensure the full form is correctly hyphenated ('ankle–foot') and not written as 'ankle foot orthosis' (no hyphen) on first use.
Usage
Usage note: Expand on first use in formal documents. Ensure full form retains the hyphen: 'ankle–foot orthosis'.
In Context
- "The physiotherapy report recommended an AFO to facilitate safe community ambulation post-discharge." — Physiotherapy progress note