Braces and brace management.

General Principles of Bracing Within recent years, reemphasis upon the rehabilitation of severely disabled individuals has "spotlighted" the importance of proper lilting braces in the teaching of ambulation and daily activities. There seem to be several points of view regarding the intelligent selection of braces for lower extre­ mities. One group holds that patients should be braced maximally as in­ dicated by a careful analysis of existing tests of muscle function. Followers of this plan contend that any excess braceage may be discarded as the patient's recovery and proficiency in handling his body improve. They assert that braces and other supportive apparratus can be an asset in teach­ ing control of body segments and in the functional training program. For example, they might say that the patient, hovering on the borderline be­ tween wearing a pelvic band and attempting activities without one, might do well to wear the pelvic band for a number of weeks to develop stability and the sensation of proper body alignment.