Get Back on the Trail

How the Elevate 360° Helps Drop Foot Patients Hike Again

One and a half miles straight up the side of a rock. That's what Lorraine Carroll tackled at Delicate Arch in Utah. With drop foot. In her Elevate brace.

If you've been told your hiking days are over because of drop foot, keep reading.

When you have drop foot, uneven terrain is the enemy. Roots, rocks, inclines. Any of them can catch your toe and send you falling.

The solution most people get? A bulky AFO that goes all the way up to their knee. It might keep your foot from dropping but it also keeps you from doing much of anything else.

Here's what Lorraine was dealing with before she found FootScientific:

"That brace kept me from doing so many things that I was really sad. It was heavy, bulky and made my leg sore throughout the day. I would have to come home after shopping or just visiting someone and take this brace OFF!"

Sound familiar?

The Elevate 360° takes a completely different approach. Instead of a rigid plastic shell that locks your ankle in place, it uses an external support system with adjustable tension.

The result? A brace so lightweight that customers tell us they forget they're wearing it.

And because you can adjust the tension with the BOA® dial, you can customize support for whatever the trail throws at you.

In 2012, Lorraine had major back surgery at the Sonoran Spine Center in Mesa, Arizona. She thought the operation would solve her problems.

It didn't.

Shortly after coming home she fell on her patio and broke her foot in two places. That's when doctors diagnosed her with drop foot from spinal cord damage.

The brace insurance provided went all the way up to her knee. It was cumbersome, stiff and kept her foot in one position only. Walking, dancing, exercising? Nearly impossible.

"The Foot Science Brace is so light that I don't even know it's there while it's doing the job of holding my drop foot up. I exercise 5 days a week and it does not interfere with my agility to move my foot if needed."

But here's the part that really matters:

"I can walk so much better now and even a slow to faster run. I can increase my walking activity without any rubbing or heaviness or burning pain. I can wear this brace throughout the whole day for over 8 hours and sometimes I don't even know it's there."

Lorraine didn't stop at daily walks. She went to Utah and hiked to one of the most iconic landmarks in the American Southwest.

"We hiked up to Delicate Arch in Utah and that's the one and a half miles straight up straight on the side of a rock! The brace was wonderful!"

IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!

- Lorraine Carroll, Mesa, Arizona

Steffen has neuropathy so severe he can't even wear socks. Every in-shoe brace made things worse.

He got his Elevate brace just days before a vacation. Loading the car for the airport without the brace on, he caught his foot on a crack and took a bad fall.

"After getting myself together I put the brace on and have been wearing it every day since. I haven't even stumbled once."

Before: Could not walk a quarter mile. Gait was off. Hip was in pain. Foot slapped the ground with a loud noise. Self-conscious while walking.

After: "The brace corrected my gait and now I can walk without any problems. Now I can walk quiet again. I now have stability and my balance back. It truly has been a gift to get my life back."

- Steffen Wright

"This brace is great and after several months of wearing it, I somehow broke a tab off and the customer service was amazing. They replaced it. I would highly recommend the brace (even allowed me to go hiking) and the company behind it is even better."

- John, Amazon Review

Dr. Rob Faux, MD | Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

"Hiking with drop foot presents unique challenges. Uneven terrain requires constant ankle adjustment that rigid braces simply don't allow.

The Elevate's external design provides dorsiflexion support without restricting the natural proprioceptive feedback your foot needs on variable surfaces. And because the BOA dial allows micro-adjustments, patients can increase tension on steep inclines and release it on flat sections.

The lightweight construction also matters. When you're hiking miles on a trail, every ounce counts. A heavy brace leads to fatigue, compensatory gait patterns and ultimately more falls. The Elevate addresses this by keeping support external and minimal."

Lightweight Design: Customers routinely tell us they forget they're wearing it. No heavy plastic shell dragging you down.

Adjustable Tension: More support for steep sections. Less tension when you need flexibility. The BOA dial adjusts in seconds.

All-Day Comfort: Lorraine wears hers 8+ hours. No rubbing, no burning, no pain.

Works With Hiking Boots and Sandals: Put the anchor hooks in once and they stay. Works with Keens, hiking boots or any sturdy footwear.

Packable: Small enough to toss in a backpack for travel.

The Elevate 360° Drop Foot Brace comes with everything you need: anchor hook kits for multiple shoes, replacement cord and easy-to-follow instructions.

60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee + Free Returns

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Questions? We're here to help. Email admin@footscientific.com or call 801-666-6468.