Orthosis, system and methods for addressing foot drop

An orthosis for addressing drop foot, comprising:

• an elongated cinching member;
• a pair of engagement elements secured to the elongated cinching member;
• a reel tensioning system associated with the elongated cinching member and configured to releasably cinch the tensioning system;
• at least two guides on opposite sides of the reel tensioning system;
• and
• a support configured to be secured around a lower leg of an individual, just about an ankle below the lower leg, the attachment element including:
• an anterior element configured to be positioned over a shin of the lower leg, the anterior element including:
• at least two collapsible regions to which the at least two guides are secured;
• and
• a base to which the reel tensioning system is secured, the base having a rigidity sufficient to resist collapsing of a majority of the anterior as the reel tensioning system introduces tension in the elongated cinching member and the tension in the elongated cinching member causes the at least two guides to pull on the at least two collapsible regions;
• and
• a securing element extending from at least one side of the anterior element and having a flexibility sufficient to wrap around a back side of the lower leg to secure the support to the lower leg.

A method for addressing drop foot, comprising:

• securing a foot-receiving member to a foot of an individual the foot having a drop foot condition;
• securing a support of an orthosis for addressing drop foot around a lower leg of the individual, above the foot;
• inserting a pair of engagement elements of the orthosis into corresponding features on opposite sides of the foot-receiving member;
• introducing tension in at least one flexible elongated element of the orthosis extending between the support and the pair of engagement elements to apply an upward force to the foot-receiving member and to the foot;
• and
• engaging the foot-receiving member with a tooth on an end of each engagement element of the pair of engagement elements that has been inserted into a corresponding feature of the foot-receiving member.