[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the kinematics of the ankle in the lunge to estabilish effectiveness of an ankle stretching orthosis (ASO) on the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) of individuals with limited dorsiflexion ROM. [Subjects and Methods] Forty ankles with decreased dorsiflexion ROM of 20 participants were evaluated in this study. After wearing the ASO, part...

Computer-aided design and manufacture of prosthetic and orthotic devices has recently moved out of the laboratory into clinical use. The Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service has directed coordinated evaluation and development projects of this emerging technology under the name: Automated Fabrication of Mobility Aids or AFMA. One of the major results of ...

Oral wounds and burns may result in microstomia with significant management problems. An important early management decision involves the selection of an appliance capable of applying forces that will halt and reverse the condition. A selection appropriate to the patient may be based on the need for teeth suitably placed to retain and position a particular device. Limited access to the patient'...

The Matrix seating system is an adaptable orthosis made of interlocking plastic components which can be shaped to fit the needs of the disabled. Twenty-five patients who had used this system for a minimum of 12 months have been assessed clinically. It was found to have several advantages over its rivals particularly in patient and guardian acceptance, versatility and on economic grounds. Howeve...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of joint immobilization on morphometric parameters and glycogen content of soleus muscle treated with clenbuterol. Male Wistar (3-4 months old) rats were divided into 4 groups (N = 6 for each group): control, clenbuterol, immobilized, and immobilized treated with clenbuterol. Immobilization was performed with acrylic resin orthoses and 10 ...

The halo body jacket and plaster Minerva body jacket have been the preferred orthoses when maximal stabilization of the cervical spine is required. This report identifies some disadvantages of these orthoses, introduces the thermoplastic Minerva body jacket (TMBJ), and discusses its advantages in the rehabilitation of patients with cervical spine instability. A preliminary roentgenographic stud...

BACKGROUND Different foot postures are associated with alterations in foot function, kinetics and the subsequent occurrence of injury. Little is known about changes in foot posture following prolonged weightbearing exercise. This study aimed to identify changes in foot posture after running a half marathon. METHODS Foot posture was measured using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and navicular h...

Interlimb neural coupling might underlie human bipedal locomotion, which is reflected in the fact that people swing their arms synchronously with leg movement in normal gait. Therefore, arm swing should be included in gait training to provide coordinated interlimb performance. The present study aimed to develop a Rotational Orthosis for Walking with Arm Swing (ROWAS), and evaluate its feasibili...

then there are a wide range of devices which are foot orthoses. This range would include footwear with adaptions, ‘simple’ insoles and pads and the rigid foot orthoses produced from casts of the foot. It is the latter of these on which this article concentrates as it is these orthoses which suffer from a general lack of understanding of their principles and applications. This is not to say that...