Serial Casting: Leg Braces

These instructions are for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients recommended to wear leg braces.

Important information:

Your child's healthcare team has ordered leg braces for your child. Each child is different. Some children wear braces all the time, except for bathing and therapy. Some only wear them while asleep or awake. Other children are on a set schedule of wearing the braces off and on throughout the day. Follow the schedule your therapist gave you for when to wear the braces.

Your child will start by wearing the braces for a short amount of time, to prevent blisters or discomfort. Follow the directions from your therapist to add time each day, for the first 5 days, working up to the full prescribed schedule.

Patient instructions:

Putting on your child's braces

• Your child should always wear socks under the brace. A long, cotton sock is best.

• Bend your child's ankle. The foot should be at a 90-degree angle to the lower leg.

• Bend your child's leg at the knee and slide the foot into the brace. The foot should be flat and the heel as far back as possible.

• Tighten the foot straps.

• Tighten the leg straps.

• Your child must always wear shoes over the brace while standing. Sneakers are best. Usually, a shoe 1/2 size larger than your child's foot should fit over the brace, but they may need one that is wider or deeper.

Skin care

• Clean the skin daily with soap and water. Dry the skin well.

• Check the skin under your child's braces daily. If there are areas of redness, watch them carefully. If the redness does not go away in 15-20 minutes, have your child stop wearing the brace. Call your child's orthotist or physical therapist to have the braces refitted.

• Stop wearing the braces if there are blisters or areas of skin breakdown. Do not put bandages or padding under the braces. Call your orthotist or physical therapist to have them refit.

• If you apply lotion only use a small amount and allow it to dry before using the brace. Baby powder can help control sweating.

Brace care

• Clean your child's braces weekly with soap and cool water. Towel dry. Windex can be used to remove any spots. Hand wash the straps.

• The braces can burn or melt easily. Do not put them in sunlight or a clothes dryer. Do not leave them in a hot car.

• Do not oil any joints on the braces.

Follow-up visits

Follow-up visits should be scheduled every 3 months with your child's orthotist or physical therapist to check your child's growth and adjust the braces. If your child complains of pain while wearing the braces or if you notice areas of redness that do not go away within 20 minutes, stop wearing the braces immediately and make an appointment with the orthotist.

Contact your therapist with any questions.

Reviewed on January 10, 2023, by Stacey Caviston, PT, DPT; Megan Beam, PT, DPT; Ken Knecht, PT, MS, SCS