Revolutionizing Comfort
The Ultimate Clubfoot Solution
The team at the University of Iowa developed the Iowa Brace with an emphasis on lifestyle and comfort. It was especially important to set a new wearability standard because discomfort and skin irritations are two of the most common reasons for discontinued use among patients.
The Iowa Brace is constructed of a breathable mesh that maximizes ventilation and provides lightweight durability. Its cushioned tongue helps prevent skin irritation on the top of the patient’s feet, which eliminates the need for third-party add-ons. The one-of-a-kind contoured AFO insert features a cupped heel counter that stabilizes the foot to both reduce friction and promote proper usage.
The Iowa Flex Bar and platforms are injection molded from fiber-reinforced nylon that is lightweight and safe for children. The Iowa Flex Bar gives the child freedom to move each foot independently, which enables them to stretch the muscles and tendons.
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100K+
Iowa Braces distributed since 2013
The Iowa Brace maintains the correction that has been achieved via the Ponseti Method and prevents relapse of clubfoot. It was designed by a team of renowned specialists at the University of Iowa, including Dr. Nicole Grosland, Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Dr. Thomas Cook, Professor Emeritus of Public Health and Physical Therapy; and Dr. Jose Morcuende, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon and President of Ponseti International Association. The Iowa Brace has the advantage of having been designed by experts who used their insights from decades of clinical experience treating children born with clubfoot.
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Iowa Brace Design FAQs
Below are questions that are frequently asked about the design of the Iowa Brace. Our very own Dr. Morcuende, the lead designer of the Iowa Brace and worldwide expert in clubfoot deformity correction, provides clinical answers about the design features of the Iowa Brace.
The Iowa Brace has a fixed abduction angle for the affected ankle at 60 degrees. Others on the market set it to 70 or 50. Why was 60 degrees chosen?
There is no clinical data on rotational angle differences with the recommendation of 60 to 70 degrees of abduction. Biomechanical data and comfort suggest 60 degrees is a good angle to stretch the muscles. In some children, 70 degrees’ abduction can be too much rotation leading to external tibia torsion. 70 degrees can also affect the child’s heel and result in additional valgus alignment leading to flatfoot in some children.
Why does the Iowa Brace not have adjustable bars like other products on the market?
The Iowa Brace comes in five length bars: 8 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch, 13 inch, and 15 inch. The length of the bar was calculated based on normalized data of a child’s shoulder width. Your provider can choose any of the five lengths available for each patient. In addition, the Iowa AFO shoes can be used with All D-Bar enterprises Dobbs Clubfoot Bracing adjustable bars. https://www.dobbsbrace.com/ezclkmd
Why does the Iowa Brace use nylon as the material for the Iowa Flex Bar, other than being lightweight?
Although the primary goal of clubfoot braces is to maintain the foot in the fully corrected position, the ability to wiggle around a little can make the process a bit more tolerable, can help with circulation, and, consequently, may increase adherence to the prescribed protocol. The connecting bar on the Iowa Brace is called a Flex Bar because it provides the young user with some limited movement when he or she actively pushes and pulls against it, but always returns to the intended position when the patient relaxes. As seen in the accompanying video, it appears that this one-year-old is doing his own stretching exercises!
Help Transform a Child’s Life
Your donation can make a world of difference for children born with clubfoot deformity, giving the child a chance to walk, run, and play without limitations.