Our Polio Leg Treatment Services at The Rehab Street

Every polio survivor has a unique pattern of muscle involvement, deformity, and functional limitation. Our treatment approach is built on a detailed individual assessment — not a standard prescription applied to everyone. Here is the full range of polio leg treatment options we provide:

1. Custom KAFO (Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis) — The Primary Polio Leg Brace

The KAFO — also known as the polio caliper or polio knee brace — is the most important orthotic device in polio leg treatment. It extends from the upper thigh to the foot, controlling the knee, ankle, and foot simultaneously as a single biomechanical unit. This is essential when polio has weakened the quadriceps (front thigh muscles) to the point where the knee cannot sustain itself during walking — a condition that, without support, leads to dangerous backward knee buckling (genu recurvatum) or progressive knee joint destruction.

Our KAFOs are individually designed and custom-fabricated based on a detailed cast or 3D scan of your limb. We do not prescribe generic sizes. Each device is built to the precise contours of your leg with the appropriate knee joint mechanism, ankle setting, and foot plate for your specific muscle weakness pattern.

KAFO types we fabricate at The Rehab Street:

• Conventional polypropylene KAFO — Standard custom device; lighter than metal-leather; moulded to the limb; suitable for daily use in most adults

• Carbon fibre composite KAFO — Up to 28% lighter than polypropylene; energy-storing properties reduce walking fatigue; ideal for active patients and those with post-polio fatigue

• Metal-leather KAFO (traditional caliper) — Robust, repairable, and suited to specific clinical requirements or patient preferences; still widely used in India

• Stance control KAFO (SC-KAFO) — The most functionally advanced option; automatically locks on stance and unlocks on swing for a natural gait; requires adequate hip strength

• Weight-bearing KAFO — Includes a ischial weight-bearing seat for patients with combined hip and lower limb weakness; transfers load away from the limb

 

2. AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) — Polio Ankle Brace for Foot Drop

When polio-related weakness is limited to the ankle and foot — particularly foot drop — without significant knee instability, an AFO is the appropriate device. Our custom AFOs are moulded to the exact shape of your lower leg and foot, ensuring precise fit, optimal ankle alignment, and secure positioning inside footwear.

AFO types for polio management:

• Posterior leaf spring AFO — Lightweight, flexible device that provides a dorsiflexion assist; ideal for mild to moderate foot drop without spasticity

• Solid ankle AFO — Rigid, fixed-ankle device for equinus deformity or ankle instability; maximum control

• Dynamic carbon AFO — Lightest and most energy-efficient; stores and returns energy at toe-off; for active polio survivors needing minimal weight and maximum function

• Ground reaction (floor reaction) AFO — For polio patients with combined foot drop and mild knee weakness; uses ground contact forces to assist knee extension

 

3. HKAFO (Hip Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis) — For Extensive Bilateral Weakness

When polio has affected the hip muscles in addition to the knee and ankle — or when bilateral lower limb involvement makes standard KAFOs insufficient — an HKAFO that extends support from the pelvis to the foot is required. HKAFOs are more complex to don and doff, and heavier than KAFOs, but for patients with extensive weakness, they may be the only device that enables safe, independent standing and walking.

Our orthotists assess hip abductor and extensor strength, the degree of Trendelenburg gait, and bilateral limb function before recommending an HKAFO — ensuring this device is prescribed only when genuinely indicated and fitted with the care its complexity demands.

4. Post-Polio Syndrome Management and Orthotic Reassessment

Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is one of the most challenging aspects of long-term polio management. As previously functional muscles progressively weaken in PPS, an orthotic prescription that was appropriate five years ago may be dangerously inadequate today. We provide specialist PPS orthotic reviews, gait reassessment, and device upgrading for patients experiencing new weakness, increased fatigue, or declining walking function.

Signs that your current orthosis may need reassessment:

• Your current brace feels looser, less supportive, or more difficult to control

• You are experiencing new falls or near-falls that were not happening before

• Walking distances you previously managed comfortably now cause significant fatigue

• You are relying increasingly on your hand on your knee or thigh to walk

• New pain has developed in the hip, shoulder, wrist, or lower back — signs of compensatory overuse

 

5. Customised Orthopedic Footwear for Polio

The right orthotic device requires the right shoe to perform correctly. Many polio survivors struggle to find commercial footwear that accommodates their KAFO or AFO, compensates for leg length discrepancy, or provides the stability their condition requires. At The Rehab Street, we provide customised orthopedic footwear — including shoes with built-in heel or sole raises for leg length discrepancy, extra-depth shoes for KAFO users, and specially constructed therapeutic footwear for patients with complex foot and ankle deformities.

6. Gait Training and Rehabilitation

Receiving a new KAFO or AFO is the beginning of the treatment process, not the end. Learning to walk safely and efficiently with a new orthosis takes time, guidance, and structured practice. Our team guides every new orthotic patient through:

• How to correctly don and doff the device

• Building wearing time gradually to protect skin integrity

• Walking technique on flat surfaces, stairs, inclines, and uneven terrain

• Exercises to strengthen the muscles that remain functional — maximising the body's own contribution to stability alongside the orthotic

• Energy conservation strategies — particularly important for patients with post-polio fatigue

 

Hand-Knee Gait in Polio: A Warning Sign That Needs Immediate Attention

If you are currently pressing your hand or palm onto your thigh or knee while walking to stop it from buckling — this is called hand-knee gait, and it is one of the clearest clinical signs that your quadriceps are not providing sufficient knee stability during walking. It may feel like a manageable habit, but it carries serious long-term consequences that most people are not warned about.

Every year of hand-knee gait places thousands of abnormal loading cycles on the shoulder joint, the wrist, and the elbow of the arm used for support. Shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tears, wrist arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome are significantly more common in long-term hand-knee gait users as a direct result. A correctly fitted KAFO eliminates the need for this manoeuvre entirely — protecting the upper limb for the long term while simultaneously making walking safer and less fatiguing. If this describes how you walk, please do not delay getting an orthotic assessment.

Important:  Hand-knee gait is not a safe long-term compensation strategy. It is a clinical sign that your current orthotic support is inadequate — or that you are walking without an orthosis when you should not be. The Rehab Street's orthotists can assess your knee stability and prescribe the appropriate KAFO to eliminate this pattern safely.

The Polio Leg Treatment Assessment at The Rehab Street

Our polio leg treatment begins with a thorough clinical assessment — because no two polio survivors are alike, and no standard prescription can substitute for an individually designed orthotic solution. Here is what to expect at your first appointment:

• Detailed history: We discuss the original polio diagnosis, the specific muscles affected, your current level of function, your fall history, and your daily activity requirements.

• Manual muscle testing: Systematic assessment of muscle strength at the hip, knee, ankle, and foot — graded precisely to determine which muscles can contribute to stability and which require orthotic substitution.

• Gait analysis: We observe your walking pattern in detail, identifying every compensatory movement — hip hike, circumduction, trunk lean, hand-knee contact, equinus landing — and the structural causes behind each one.

• Joint range of motion: Assessment of passive and active range of motion at all lower limb joints, including testing for contracture and spasticity that may affect orthotic design.

• Existing orthosis review: If you are already using a KAFO, AFO, or caliper, we assess whether it still fits correctly, whether the prescription remains appropriate, and whether it is in functional condition.

• Casting or 3D scanning: A plaster of Paris cast or digital 3D scan of your limb provides the precise mould from which your custom orthosis is fabricated.

• Prescription and fabrication: Based on the assessment, we design the orthosis with the appropriate material, joint mechanisms, alignment parameters, and functional features.

• Fitting and adjustment: The completed device is fitted and walked in — adjustments are made until alignment, comfort, and function are all confirmed.

• Follow-up: Regular reviews to ensure the device remains well-fitted and functional as your condition evolves over time.

 

Why Choose The Rehab Street for Polio Leg Treatment in Delhi NCR?

There are many places in Delhi NCR where you can have a KAFO made. What makes The Rehab Street different is the depth of clinical assessment, the precision of the orthotic prescription, and the understanding that an orthosis is only as effective as the clinical process behind it.

• Specialist orthotists with extensive experience in polio and post-polio orthotic management

• Full range of KAFO, AFO, and HKAFO fabrication in polypropylene, carbon fibre, and metal-leather

• Stance control KAFO technology for appropriate patients — restoring near-natural gait

• Custom orthopedic footwear for patients with leg length discrepancy and complex foot requirements

• Post-polio syndrome specialist assessment and orthotic upgrade programme

• Gait training and rehabilitation integrated with orthotic fitting

• No referral required — direct access to specialist assessment

• Same-week appointments available at both clinic locations

 

Our Clinic Locations — Polio Leg Treatment in Delhi & Gurgaon

Delhi Clinic:

H-13, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi

Serving patients from: South Delhi, Greater Kailash, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, Kalkaji, Okhla, Saket, Malviya Nagar, Hauz Khas, and all of Central and South Delhi.

Gurgaon Clinic:

C 616, Sixth Floor, Nirvana Courtyard Market, Sector-50, Gurgaon

Serving patients from: Gurgaon, Sector 50, Nirvana Country, South City, DLF phases, Faridabad, Sohna Road, and surrounding areas.

No Referral Required:  You do not need a doctor's referral to book an assessment at The Rehab Street. Contact us directly to schedule your polio leg treatment consultation at whichever clinic is most convenient for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Polio Leg Treatment

Q1. What is the best treatment for polio leg weakness?

The most effective long-term treatment for polio-related leg weakness is a custom orthosis — either an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis), KAFO (Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis), or HKAFO — depending on which joints are affected and the degree of weakness at each level. These devices substitute for absent or insufficient muscle function, enabling safe walking, preventing secondary joint damage, and reducing the energy cost of mobility. Combined with targeted physiotherapy to strengthen remaining functional muscles, a correctly prescribed orthosis is the cornerstone of polio leg treatment.

Q2. What is a polio caliper and is it still used today?

A polio caliper is the traditional term for a KAFO (Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis) — a brace that supports the knee, ankle, and foot from the upper thigh to the foot. Traditional metal-leather calipers are still used in India due to their durability and repairability, but modern KAFOs in polypropylene and carbon fibre are significantly lighter, better-fitting, and more functional. At The Rehab Street, we fabricate all types — from traditional metal-leather to advanced carbon fibre stance control devices — based on clinical need and patient preference.

Q3. What is the difference between a polio knee brace and a KAFO?

In common language, a 'polio knee brace' and a KAFO are the same thing — a device that supports the knee joint in a patient with polio-related quadriceps weakness. KAFO is the clinical term; polio knee brace is what most patients call it in everyday use. A true knee-only brace that does not extend to the ankle and foot is generally insufficient for polio patients, as they typically need ankle and foot control as well as knee stability.

Q4. What is hand-knee gait in polio and why is it a problem?

Hand-knee gait is a compensatory walking pattern in which the polio survivor places their hand on their thigh or knee during walking to prevent the knee from buckling. It occurs when quadriceps weakness is severe enough that the knee cannot stabilise independently during the stance phase. While it may feel like a functional solution, it progressively damages the shoulder, wrist, and elbow of the supporting arm — leading to upper limb problems that compound the disability. A KAFO eliminates the need for hand-knee gait immediately and protects the upper limb long-term.

Q5. Can children with polio use KAFOs?

Yes. KAFOs are regularly prescribed for children with polio-related lower limb weakness. For growing children, the orthosis needs to be reviewed and replaced more frequently — typically every 6–12 months — as the child grows. At The Rehab Street, we have experience fitting KAFOs for children across all age groups and ensure that each device is sized, aligned, and functionally appropriate for the child's size and activity level.

Q6. What is post-polio syndrome and does it need different orthotic treatment?

Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is the gradual onset of new muscle weakness, fatigue, and pain that affects 25–40% of polio survivors decades after the original infection — typically in the 40s and 50s. As muscles that were previously compensating begin to fail, an orthotic prescription that was adequate before may no longer be sufficient. PPS patients often need their KAFO prescription upgraded to a more supportive design, switched to a lighter material (carbon fibre) to reduce fatigue, or supplemented with an HKAFO if hip weakness has developed. Regular orthotic reviews are essential for PPS management.

Q7. How long does a custom KAFO last?

A well-fabricated polypropylene KAFO typically lasts 3–5 years with normal daily use. Carbon fibre KAFOs can last 4–6 years or longer. Metal-leather calipers can last many years with regular maintenance. The internal components — knee joint mechanisms, straps, and Velcro — may need periodic replacement before the shell itself requires renewal. Annual maintenance checks are recommended, and sooner if the device feels loose, shows signs of cracking, or if the patient's body weight or limb shape changes significantly.

Q8. What is an AFO and when is it used instead of a KAFO for polio?

An AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) is a shorter device that covers only the ankle and foot — not the knee. It is the appropriate prescription when polio has caused foot drop or ankle instability but the knee remains stable (the quadriceps are strong enough to hold the knee extended during walking without external support). If the patient is pressing their hand on their knee to walk, an AFO alone is never sufficient — a KAFO is required. The decision between AFO and KAFO is made on the basis of a clinical muscle strength assessment, not patient or family preference.

Q9. Is surgical treatment needed for polio leg problems?

The vast majority of polio leg problems are managed successfully with orthotic devices and do not require surgery. In some cases — particularly when fixed contractures (shortened muscles or tendons that cannot be corrected passively) prevent proper orthotic fitting — surgical procedures such as tendon lengthening or joint stabilisation may be recommended prior to orthotic management. However, orthotics remain the long-term management tool in virtually all cases. At The Rehab Street, we assess each patient individually and refer for surgical consultation where clinically indicated while continuing to provide orthotic support throughout.

Q10. How do I book a polio leg treatment assessment at The Rehab Street?

No referral is required. You can contact The Rehab Street directly to book an appointment at our Delhi clinic (H-13, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi) or our Gurgaon clinic (C 616, Sixth Floor, Nirvana Courtyard Market, Sector-50, Gurgaon). Same-week appointments are typically available. At your first appointment, our specialist orthotist will conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment of your muscle strength, gait pattern, and current orthotic situation — and discuss the most appropriate treatment pathway for your specific condition.

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