In short The Xtern Summit and Xtern Frontier ankle foot braces made by the Canadian company Turbomed Orthotics are true innovations: they are attached to the outside of the shoe. They are based on several years of development by François Coté, mechanical design engineer and himself a patient suffering from weak dorsiflexor muscles, and Stéphane Savard, orthotist and entrepreneur. They share their philosophy with Bauerfeind wanting to enable patients to have an active life, so they established a partnership for sales in Germany.
- Both models are attached to the calf and with clips to solid shoes, from boots to sandals.
- For patients with difficulty grasping, for example following a stroke, the Frontier model can be put on with one hand and is secured with a magnetic closure.
- If the shoe fits, then the brace will also fit: the brace can usually be fitted by an orthotist during just one appointment.
- The Turbomed braces are listed in the Statutory Health Insurance Medical Aids Directory in Germany.