With this brace (AFO), the patient is able to bear weight, and usually a regular shoe can be worn. Sometimes a half size bigger shoe is required. The AFO will protect the tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints about the ankle and foot from the stresses of walking.
This type of brace is usually padded, but sometimes will require adjustments by the brace provider, as foot shapes can change in subtle ways over time.
Also, since the ankle doesn't move, often this brace is combined with a modification to the bottom of the shoe in the form of a rocker bottom, which allows the heel to contact the ground, roll to the sole, then roll off the toe. This shoe modification is helpful since the ankle can't do these motions when supported by the brace.