Ankle-foot orthosis and method

An ankle-foot orthosis (A.F.O.) system for controlling the alignment and motions of the joints of the foot and ankle of a patient, the system comprising:

• an upper post member having a first end and a second end;
• a calf connector for connecting the second end of the upper post to a patient's leg;
• a shoe having a sole side wall with a heel portion with a concave trough formed in a side wall of the heel portion and having a channel formed laterally through the heel portion;
• and
• an attachment device for attaching the upper post member to the shoe, the device comprising:
• a fastener having a first and second flanged head, the fastener disposed with the channel with the flanged heads on an exterior portion of the shoe,
• a u-shaped member sized and configured to substantially conform to an outer side wall of the heel of the shoe and wherein the u-shaped member has an inwardly convex portion sized and configured to mate with the concave trough on the shoe,
• wherein the unshaped member is formed with a channel and hook connection on a first end and a channel and hook connection on a second end, the first and second channel and hook connections for detachably engaging the flanged heads of the fastener extending through the channel of the heel of the shoe,
• a first attachment post member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first attachment post coupled to the unshaped member and the second end having a pivot connection member releasably, pivotally coupled to the upper post member, and
• a second attachment post member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second attachment post coupled to the u-shaped member and the second end having a pivot connection member releasably, pivotally coupled to the upper post member.