Box I. UK and European standards The problems • After referral to the orthotic department for hosiery, patients usually experienced a long wait for an appointment and a further delay before receiving the order. Overall, about six weeks • Leg ulcer patients awaiting hosiery required compression bandaging during the interim period. This put a time demand on the nursing service .Ordering what are ...

BACKGROUND Altered foot function is common in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Plantar pressure distributions during gait are regularly assessed in this patient group; however, the association between frequently reported magnitude-based pressure variables and clinical outcomes has not been clearly established. Recently, a novel approach to the analysis of plantar pressure distributions th...

Our main objective in carrying out this project was to provide the quadriplegic patient, who cannot use his arms, with means of control over his direct environment. Residual head motion was considered to be adequate, first, to control an electric wheelchair and, second, to extend that same control to an orthotic device which may include an active elbow and a prehension orthosis . The latter is ...

This study explored the effects of a flexible supramalleolar orthosis (SMO), indicated to decrease pronation associated with hypotonia, on postural stability in children with Down syndrome. Seventeen children with Down syndrome (nine males, eight females; mean age 5 years 10 months, SD 17.2 months; range 3 years 6 months to 8 years) were tested three times in a 10-week period (weeks 1, 3, and 1...

A test protocol is defined for the purpose of measuring rectus femoris mechanomyographic (MMG) signals. The protocol is specified in terms of the following: measurement equipment, signal processing requirements, human postural requirements, test rig, sensor placement, sensor dermal fixation, and test procedure. Preliminary tests of the statistical nature of rectus femoris MMG signals were perfo...

BACKGROUND/AIM Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Conservative treatment choices are not always satisfactory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesiotaping (KT) on pain level, grip strength, and functional status compared with that of placebo KT and orthotic device (OD) in patients with CTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this randomized, p...

Although orthotic modification using the inverted technique is available for the treatment of flatfoot, empirical evidence for the biomechanical effects of inverted-angle foot orthoses (FOs) is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different FO inversion angles on plantar pressure during gait in children with flatfoot. Twenty-one children with flexible flatfeet (mean age...

Excessive hip motion has been linked to lower extremity pathology. Foot orthoses are commonly used to control motion within lower extremity joints when lower extremity pathology and dysfunction are present. Few studies have investigated the effect of foot orthoses on hip angular kinematics during functional activities. Eighteen females and 18 males performed a vertical jump with and without a p...

Joint contractures which do not respond to conventional physiotherapy can be difficult to treat. Serial plastering has been used effectively but is expensive, inconvenient to the patient and does not permit daily hygiene or clinical inspection. A mechanical device has been developed consisting a hinged orthosis which spans the affected joint to which is attached a gas strut to provide a correct...

Background Before launching a new bespoke foot orthotic (FO) product, it is necessary to understand how it works under compressive loads. Additive manufacturing and the selective laser sintering process in particular can enable a number of innovative and functional features to be integrated to the FO device. A simple example of this design freedom is to adjust the shell thickness of an FO. This...