Child's foot emerging from earth, supported by a Steenbeek brace, with a sunrise in the background.

Steenbeek Brace: A Game-Changer for Clubfoot Treatment in Developing Countries?

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a low-cost, locally-made brace is revolutionizing clubfoot care, offering hope and mobility to children in Kenya and beyond."

Clubfoot, a congenital deformity affecting approximately one in every 1,000 live births globally, poses significant challenges, especially in developing countries. In Kenya alone, around 1,200 infants are born with clubfoot each year. Without proper treatment, this condition leads to painful disabilities and social stigma, severely impacting the quality of life for affected individuals and their families.

The Ponseti method, an internationally recognized standard of care, has revolutionized clubfoot management. A crucial component of this method is bracing, which maintains the correction achieved through casting. However, the high cost of newer, 'child-friendly' braces—around USD $300—puts them out of reach for many families in Kenya and other low-resource countries.

Enter the Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB), a locally-made alternative in Kenya that costs less than USD $10. Since its introduction in 2005 as part of the Clubfoot Care for Kenya (CCK) program, the SFAB has offered a more accessible solution. A recent study investigated the acceptance, tolerability, compliance, complications, and outcomes associated with the SFAB, providing valuable insights into its effectiveness and potential for wider adoption.

Why is the Steenbeek Brace a Viable Solution for Clubfoot?

Child's foot emerging from earth, supported by a Steenbeek brace, with a sunrise in the background.

A cross-sectional study conducted between January and June 2014 across four health institutions affiliated with the CCK program—CURE International Children's Hospital, Kijabe; Association for the Physically Disabled Persons of Kenya (APDK), Nairobi; APDK, Kisumu; and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret—examined the impact of the SFAB. These institutions serve both urban and rural populations, accounting for roughly 50% of the clubfoot burden in Kenya.

The study focused on children who had been using braces and were attending regular follow-up appointments. Parents were invited to participate voluntarily, and data was collected through questionnaires, assessing tolerability (absence of visible discomfort), compliance (consistent brace use for ≥6 months), complications (skin lesions), and outcomes (progress in deformity correction).

Affordability: Priced under USD $10, the SFAB is significantly more accessible than expensive alternatives.
Tolerability: 93.5% of children showed no visible discomfort while using the SFAB.
Compliance: Noncompliance was reported in only 15% of patients, a notable improvement compared to traditional braces.
Complications: Complications, such as skin bruising and pressure sores, were reported in just 5% of cases.
Effectiveness: 94% of compliant children showed improvement in foot deformity correction.

The results indicated that the SFAB is not only well-tolerated but also demonstrates high compliance rates compared to traditional Dennis Brown braces. While slightly inferior to newer, child-friendly braces in terms of compliance, its affordability makes it a practical choice for families in low-resource settings. The interim outcomes in foot correction were excellent, highlighting the potential of the SFAB in clubfoot management.

The Future of Clubfoot Care: Affordable Solutions for Global Impact

The study underscores the potential of the low-cost SFAB as an effective and accessible solution for clubfoot management. Its high efficacy and minimal complications make it a viable option for developing countries to incorporate clubfoot treatment into mainstream healthcare services, ensuring that all affected infants have access to the care they need. By prioritizing affordable, locally-made solutions like the SFAB, ministries of health can significantly improve the lives of children with clubfoot and reduce the burden of disability in their communities.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB) and how does it help with clubfoot?

The Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB) is a low-cost, locally-made brace used to treat clubfoot, a congenital deformity affecting infants. The SFAB is a key component of the Ponseti method, which aims to correct clubfoot through casting followed by bracing to maintain the correction. The SFAB's primary function is to hold the corrected foot in the proper position, preventing the clubfoot from relapsing and promoting normal foot development. It is designed to be accessible and affordable, making it a viable solution in resource-limited settings like Kenya.

How does the cost of the Steenbeek Brace compare to other clubfoot treatment options?

The Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB) is significantly more affordable than other bracing options. While newer, 'child-friendly' braces can cost around USD $300, putting them out of reach for many families in developing countries, the SFAB costs less than USD $10. This affordability makes the SFAB a practical choice, ensuring more children have access to necessary clubfoot treatment.

What were the key findings of the study on the Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB)?

The study investigating the Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB) revealed several key findings. It showed high tolerability, with 93.5% of children experiencing no visible discomfort. Compliance rates were also notable, with only 15% of patients reporting noncompliance. Complications, such as skin issues, were observed in just 5% of cases. Importantly, 94% of children who consistently used the SFAB showed improvement in foot deformity correction. These results highlight the SFAB's effectiveness and potential for wider adoption in clubfoot management.

What is the Clubfoot Care for Kenya (CCK) program, and what role did it play in the use of the Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB)?

The Clubfoot Care for Kenya (CCK) program played a crucial role in introducing and implementing the Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB). The SFAB was introduced in 2005 as part of the CCK program, providing a more accessible and affordable solution for clubfoot treatment. The CCK program supported the use and distribution of the SFAB through collaborations with various health institutions across Kenya, including CURE International Children's Hospital, Kijabe; Association for the Physically Disabled Persons of Kenya (APDK), Nairobi; APDK, Kisumu; and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. The program's involvement was instrumental in making the SFAB available to a wider population and in gathering data on its effectiveness.

How does the Steenbeek Brace improve the quality of life for children with clubfoot and their families?

The Steenbeek foot abduction brace (SFAB) significantly improves the quality of life for children with clubfoot and their families by providing access to effective treatment. Without treatment, clubfoot leads to painful disabilities, social stigma, and limitations in mobility, severely impacting a child's overall well-being. The SFAB's affordability and effectiveness enable children to receive timely and appropriate care, allowing them to walk and participate in activities without physical constraints or social limitations. This, in turn, reduces the burden on families and enhances the child's prospects for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Moreover, by reducing the prevalence of disability, the SFAB contributes to the overall improvement of community health and social inclusion.