You lose muscle with them. He should see a doctor who can advise him what would be the best to do. And sometimes you wonder if it was the right thing to do or not. AFO's could save a person from injury but who knows. I know people who have fallen with them and broke them as well as their ankle, foot, etc. Wish I'd never gotten AFO's four years ago but who knows where I'd be now. No way to ever know. Mine allow ankle movement so that's good. Some do not. Wearing AFO's does contribute to additional atrophy in the calf and foot muscles for a CMTer. I would think that could be true as well for someone who does not have CMT since you are not using the muscles as you should.

I take them off around 7:00 P.M. and wear just mid high shoes til I go to bed. But then my experience is different since I have CMT and it is progressing as it does.