A recent case study compared three ankle foot orthoses for treating posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) also known as adult acquired flatfoot. Neville CG, Houck JR, Choosing among 3 ankle-foot orthoses for a patient with stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009 Nov;39(11):816-24. The case study considered a custom non-articulating AFO, an off-the-shelf AFO, and a custom articulating AFO. The custom articulating AFO was an Arizona AFO using a Tamarack™ Flexure Joint.

Based on gait analysis, the study found that the custom articulating AFO “was associated with the greatest change in flatfoot deformity.” In addition, the patient felt it produced the greatest correction in foot deformity. Therefore, the study concluded that the custom articulating AFO using the Tamarack Flexure Joint was “optimal” for the patient.