500 MILES IN THE RICHIE BRACE® DYNAMIC ASSIST

In the summer of 2013, Dr. Richie’s patient, K.M., completed the 500 mile segment of the Camino Frances route of the Camino Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage.

This walk takes four weeks to complete and is an accomplished task for only the most hearty and healthy individuals. For Mr. K.M. who suffered a severe nerve injury in his lower leg in a mountain biking accident 4 years ago, completing this hike would have been impossible. He had a paralytic dropfoot deformity which caused him to drag his foot while walking.

In Spring, 2013, Mr. K.M. was referred to Dr. Richie who fitted the patient with the Richie Dynamic Assist Brace, which Dr. Richie had designed. The brace immediately transformed Mr. K.M. back to a normal ambulating patient without any weakness or deformity. He set out to complete a long time goal of walking the Camino Francés which stretches 780 km. (nearly 500 miles) from St. Jean-Pied-du-Port near Biarritz in France to Santiago. Click here to see the full story.

The French Way is the most popular of the routes of the Way of St. James (Spanish: Camino de Santiago), the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another 780km on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León. A typical walk on the Camino Francés takes at least four weeks, allowing for one or two rest days on the way. Some travel the Camino on bicycle or on horseback.

But no bicycle or horseback were needed for Mr K.M. who walked the entire route wearing his Richie Dynamic Assist Brace, without any blisters or foot pain!

See the photo album sent by this patient documenting his remarkable achievement over a 4 week period.