OBJECTIVES To determine which, if any, of three inexpensive interventions improve gait regularity in patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN) while walking on an irregular surface under low-light conditions. DESIGN Observational. SETTING University of Michigan Biomechanics Research Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Forty-two patients with PN (20 women), mean age+/-standard deviation=64.5+/-9.7. ...

Reduction in first metatarsophalangeal joint maximum degree of dorsiflexion with dorsiflexion of the first ray has been proposed to be the predominant cause of hallux abducto valgus and hallux rigidus. We sought to determine whether orthoses made from a cast with the first ray plantarflexed and a 4-mm medial skive could increase the maximum degree of dorsiflexion in patients with functional hal...

A single-subject, alternating treatments design was conducted to evaluate the effects of inhibitive ankle-foot orthoses on standing balance in a 4.5-year-old boy with moderate spastic quadriplegia who had been wearing an initial pair of inhibitive orthoses for one year. Before introducing the subject to a newly fabricated but similarly designed pair of orthoses, we collected baseline data on th...

BACKGROUND There is controversial evidence regarding whether foot orthoses or knee braces improve pain and function or correct malalignment in selected patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the medial knee compartment. However, insoles are safe and less costly than knee bracing if they relieve pain or improve function. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES We therefore asked whether laterally wedged insoles or v...

Patellar tendinopathy is a common injury characterized by progressive activity-related anterior knee pain. It highly prevalent in sports which involve jumping and changing direction. The aim of this paper to review recent high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness physical therapy treatment patellar tendinopathy. Randomized controlled trials (n = 22) researching effects exercise therapy,...

BACKGROUND The knee joint is vulnerable to various injuries and degenerative conditions, potentially leading to functional instability. Usual treatments involve knee orthoses to support the joint. However, the level of mechanical action of these devices remains controversial despite high prescription and demand. METHODS The mechanical ability of three commercial hinged knee braces and one sle...

abstract background: various types of foot orthoses are prescribed for people with flatfoot. it has been reported that orthoses not only improve the biomechanics of the lower limb, but also have good effects on some balance parameters in these subjects. it is hypothesized that the latter effect is dependent on the rigidity of the orthoses. the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the e...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy patients for whom orthoses were indicated to control equinus or pes planovalgus deformities. DESIGN A retrospective, cross-sectional assessment was performed on diplegic subjects who had suitable barefoot and AFO gait trials on the same day. PATIENTS Thirty-five subjects with a mean age ...

Over the past decade, rehabilitative devices have undergone significant advancements. Orthoses, which are assistive limb devices, transitioned from passive supportive to active or semiactive with adjustable damping. Similarly, prosthetic limb-replacement for amputees shifted towards integration of dampers instead bulky dampers. The implementation damping is achieved through use smart magnetorhe...