Preserving Upright Mobility

DJ, You are right about the hard plastic ones!  The structural parts in the Trulife Matrix 1 are made of carbon fiber, which gives but is very strong.  The plate in the front is padded with neoprene, which protects the shin and keeps the bone warm in a good way during all seasons.  The straps are padded and are of the right thickness so that they do not bind tendons.  The calf muscle is free to flex and contract normally.  The carbon fiber plate inside the shoe corrects foot drop, and it covered with a custom molded orthotic to moderate pressure points.  Shoe is chosen that will not create pressure points, and allows good fit around AFO.  These are so light that you don't even know you're wearing them!  There was no break-in time for me--started right off wearing them from the moment I got up to when I laid down for the night.  I even take naps with them on!  My bone density has been preserved because my upright mobility was enabled through these AFOs.  I consider them "replacement parts" for what doesn't work, and love them and my forearm canes as part of my body.  The canes saved my hands from damage to the median nerve from the rehab canes which threatened to end my typing and playing viola.  Here is a link to the canes:  millennialmedical.com/index.php/shop/forearm-crutch.html Very affordable for how good they are.  They have been extremely durable, and the tips last at least 12X longer (literally) than heavy-duty crutch tips.  Something not stated on the site is that the cuffs are designed to separate from the stick without breaking if you fall, saving you a broken forearm.  This is an extremely valuable feature, along with the spring-loaded tips, articulated feet, and ergonomically angled and shaped handle.  The canes are fully adjustable for fit, and light enough that you barely grab the handle to move them.  I was so fortunate to find this equipment early on.