Has anyone found benefit from an ankle foot orthotic? I'm thinking it might be helpful for those times when our son has to go places that require more walking than he can do with regular shoes. He can walk relatively far with the orthopedic boot, (the walking cast from after his surgery), but of course not all the muscles are getting exercised when he uses it. At home he only uses regular shoes. He needs a transitional support that lets him still weight bear for longer distances like appointments at hospitals, etc.

An AFO may be worth exploring if it will give him better functionality and less pain as a short term. It may decrease whatever aggravation is being caused in the ankle. BUT, I think you nailed it with the words transitional and muscle development. My orthopedist considered one for me and PM&R immediately said no for the reasons of impeding muscle use and ROM, hence setting up future injury and imbalances. It will take extra work to maintain his calf muscles.

If it makes the difference in weightbearing for now to get to appointments instead of either being in too much pain or using a higher level of assistance then that could be helpful.

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.