A knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is a custom-molded plastic shell with contoured metal uprights and a variety of knee joints designed to provide support and correction to the knee, ankle and foot.

A KAFO is an AFO with metal uprights, a mechanical knee joint and two thigh bands. KAFOs provide stability to the knee and foot when needed during the stance phase of ambulation and knee hyperextension control from midstance to the terminal stance phase in the gait cycle.

Once you have been prescribed with a KAFO, your Orthotist will discuss a suitable wearing schedule. It is generally advised that you start to wear your KAFO for approximately 30 minute periods, increasing this time by 30 minutes each day until your tolerance increases.

Flexion–extension control. Medial–lateral control. Stance control. Clinical indications for a KAFO include instability of the knee and ankle, quadriceps weakness or absence, hyperextension of the knee, varus or valgus deformity correction in children, and paralysis of one or both legs.

A knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) may be prescribed to the person with severe neuromusculoskeletal impairment of the lower limb to promote walking stability.

KAFO is usually prescribed when bracing of an AFO or knee orthosis (KO) fails to control knee instability during standing or walking (9).

The term KAFO is an acronym that stands for knee ankle foot orthosis and describes the part of the body that the device encompasses. The orthosis extends from the thigh to the foot and is generally used to control instabilities in the lower limb by maintaining alignment and controlling motion.