A customer reached out recently because her son had worn holes through two pairs of our socks. She was frustrated — understandably — and sent me a photo.
Here’s the thing: when someone tells me the same spot is wearing through on multiple pairs, I already know what’s going on. It’s not the socks. It’s a pressure point in the brace.
So What’s Actually Happening
AFOs are rigid plastic molded to your child’s foot. When the fit is right, the pressure is distributed evenly and everything works the way it should. But kids grow constantly, and it doesn’t take much of a change for one spot on the brace to start pressing or rubbing harder than the rest.
That spot grinds the sock between hard plastic and skin with every step. The sock wears through there first — every time, same place. That’s your tell. If the hole were random, it might be a defect. But same spot, multiple pairs? That’s the brace talking to you.
What To Look For
Pay attention to where the hole shows up. Ball of the foot, near the toes, along the side — note the exact spot. Then check your child’s skin in that same area after you take the brace off for the day. If you’re seeing redness or irritation there too, that confirms it.
Also pay attention to timing. Normal sock wear happens over months. If socks are failing in days or a couple of weeks, something is creating friction that shouldn’t be there.
What To Do About It
Bring it up with your orthotist — and if you can, bring the sock. Showing them exactly where the hole is gives them a roadmap. They can smooth an edge, adjust the trim line, reshape a section, or add padding. It’s usually a quick fix, and it’ll make a real difference for your child’s comfort too, not just the socks.
And keep an eye on growth spurts. An AFO that fit perfectly a few months ago can start creating new pressure points as your child’s foot changes. If sock wear suddenly picks up when it wasn’t an issue before, that’s a sign to get the fit checked.
About Those Socks
I’ll be honest — I’m still figuring out the right way to talk about our products in these posts. What I can tell you is that we make AFO interface socks with flattened toe seams specifically because regular socks create bulk inside a brace that shouldn’t be there. They’re built for this. But the best sock in the world can’t fix a pressure point — it can only buy you a little more time before the brace wins.
If your child is wearing through socks fast, get the brace checked first. Then come see us.
— Tracy, Woodle & Company
Brace Yourself for Awesome Socks!