Introduction The project “EU-Way” funded by the EC aims to develop and clinically evaluate non-invasive technologies that create bidirectional physiological links between a hand assistive device (like a prosthesis or an exoskeleton) and the patient's volition. These links will be achieved by means of interfaces based on novel principles that combine multilevel biosignals and multimodal se...

Active orthotic devices for joint articulation have a vast number of applications that could benefit many people. Examples include joint articulation for people suffering from disabilities, increased load carrying capacity and walking distance for humans, and gait training. The main goal of this research is to help people with disabilities regain natural walking ability by replicating normal wa...

INTRODUCTION The trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint of the human thumb is the second most common joint in the hand affected by osteoarthritis. TMC arthroplasty is a common procedure used to alleviate symptoms. No randomized controlled trials have been published on the efficacy of different post-operative orthotic regimes. METHOD Fifty six participants who underwent TMC arthroplasty were allocated...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of modified dynamic metacarpophalangeal joint flexion orthoses for treatment of post-burn hand contractures. METHOD We enrolled 42 hand burn patients with limited range of motion at the metacarpophalangeal joints in this study. The patients were randomly assigned into either a control or an orthotic group. Both groups received the standard rehabilitation ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM Much previous research on orthotic walkers has focussed on their ability to offload structures in the foot and ankle; however, little is known about their effects on lower limb mechanics. This study aimed to determine effects of two orthotic walkers on the biomechanics of the knee and hip joints compared to standardised footwear. TECHNIQUE A total of 10 healthy participants...

There is an increasing need for outcome measures in the orthotic and prosthetic field and specifically a lack of outcome measures in Swedish. The Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey (OPUS) was developed in the USA for assessment of the outcome of orthotic and prosthetic interventions, and could potentially also be used for shoe insoles and orthopaedic shoes. The aims of this study were to t...

OBJECTIVE To challenge casual understanding of the causal mechanisms of foot orthotics. Although the classic orthotic paradigm of Merton L. Root and his colleagues is often acknowledged, the research attempting to explain and validate these mechanisms is far less clear in its appraisal. DATA SOURCES Studies evaluating the relationship of foot type (medial arch height) and use of foot orthoses...

BACKGROUND Proprioceptive deficits have been largely documented in PD patients, thus external sensory signals (peripheral sensory feedback) are often used to compensate the abnormalities of proprioceptive integration. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of a rehabilitation-training program, combined with the use of a sensory-motor orthotic in improving balanc...