BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Within dynamical pattern theory, ankle motion can be proposed to be a control variable, and solid ankle-foot orthoses (SAFOs) can be considered a constraint to ankle movement. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of SAFOs on movement patterns used to rise from the supine position to erect stance. SUBJECTS Thirty-nine nondisabled young adults, ranging in a...

The prescription of treatment systems which include orthoses to enable patients with high level thoracic spinal lesions to walk reciprocally is now widely practised. It remains a clinical option for which the efficacy is frequently called into question. A broad range of experience has now been accumulated with orthoses of this type, and this is reflected in the literature. The indications for p...

Microstomia is a complication of facial burns, traumatic injuries, scleroderma, or surgical reconstructions involving the oral aperture. A variety of orthoses for the correction or prevention of microstomia are offered by dentists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other specialists. This paper provides an overview of the structural and clinical features of 12 common tissue-born...

Background Physiologic (flexible) pes planus (flatfoot) is a descriptive term for feet that have a visually lowered medial longitudinal arch often in association with rearfoot eversion [1]. Reported to affect approximately 15% of the adult population [2] physiologic pes planus can be categorised as either symptomatic (painful, non-functional) or nonsymptomatic (non-painful, functional) with the...

HYPOTHESIS Loss of range of motion after injury or surgery of the elbow is a common complication. We hypothesized that an orthosis that used progressive stretch and stress relaxation principles would improve elbow range of motion. METHODS This study evaluated the result of a patient-directed, bidirectional orthosis that uses static progressive stretch and stress relaxation principles to impro...

The human hand is a complex integrated system with motor and sensory components that provides individuals with high functionality and elegant behaviour. In direct connection with the brain, the hand is capable of performing countless actions ranging from fine digit manipulation to the handling of heavy objects. However the question of which movements mostly contribute to the manipulation skills...

Background Age-related changes in midfoot mobility have the potential to influence success with foot orthoses intervention in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP). The aim of this study was to determine whether older people with PFP demonstrate less foot mobility than younger adults with PFP. Methods One hundred ninety four participants (113 (58%) women, age 32 ± 7 years, BMI 25 ± 4.9 kg/m2)...

Background There is emerging evidence that foot orthoses are effective in the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), however the identification of those most likely to benefit from orthoses has not been adequately explored. The primary aim of this study was to develop a clinical prediction rule to help identify individuals with PFPS who are most likely to benefit from foot orthoses....

BACKGROUND Clinical practice guidelines are recommendations systematically developed to assist clinical decision-making and inform healthcare. In current rheumatoid arthritis (RA) guidelines, management of the foot and ankle is under-represented and the quality of recommendation is uncertain. This study aimed to identify and critically appraise clinical practice guidelines for foot and ankle ma...

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...