AFO
Also written as: AFO — Ankle–Foot Orthosis
Abbreviation for Ankle–Foot Orthosis; a device encompassing the ankle and foot used to control position and motion of the ankle and compensate for weakness or paralysis.
Full Definition
An Ankle–Foot Orthosis (AFO) is one of the most commonly prescribed lower-limb orthoses, extending from below the knee to the foot. It is used to manage conditions such as drop foot, spasticity, and post-stroke gait impairment. AFOs may be rigid or articulated and can be prefabricated or custom-fabricated. In clinical documents, the abbreviation AFO should be defined on first use. Editors should note the hyphen in the expanded form: 'Ankle–Foot Orthosis'.
Usage
Usage note: Always expand on first use in clinical reports and patient-facing documents. Use an en dash in the expanded form (Ankle–Foot Orthosis), not a hyphen.
In Context
- "The rehabilitation notes recorded that the patient's gait had improved significantly since the AFO was fitted." — Rehabilitation progress note
- "The editor queried whether 'AFO' had been defined at first mention in the discharge summary." — Editorial review