Background. Long-term splinting, using static orthoses to prevent contractures, is widely accepted in stroke patients with paresis of the upper limb. A number of stroke patients complain about increased pain and spasticity, which leads to the nonuse of the orthosis and a risk of developing a clenched fist. Objectives. Evaluating long-term use of static hand-wrist orthoses and experienced comfor...

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an ankle foot orthosis on weight-bearing abilities of stroke patients by comparing weight loading during performance of tasks in various standing positions on the affected side. [Subjects and Methods] This study was performed with 16 stroke patients. To measure the weight loading value and percentage of weight loading in affected...

OBJECTIVE To measure walking speed and energy cost in patients with prior stroke with and without a carbon composite ankle foot orthosis. DESIGN Within-group comparisons of 2 walking conditions. PARTICIPANTS Convenience sample of 10 hemiparetic patients with a stroke at least 6 months earlier (average age 52 years) habituated to a carbon composite ankle foot orthosis. METHODS Subjects wal...

Boutonniere injury orthosis (1) This orthosis (Figure 1) may be formed by direct application using Prenyl. This material has the advantage of being easily adjusted after immersion in hot water and then setting in cold. The at t i tude of 40 degrees of flexion of the distal end por t ion prevents the orthosis from slipping. Vitrathene and polypropylene may also be used; however, bo th require a ...

Complex signals are common throughout the animal kingdom, consisting of one or more signals in one or more sensory modalities presented within a single display. I tested an efficacy-based backup hypothesis of complex signal function using the bimodal courtship signaling wolf spider Schizocosa uetzi. This hypothesis predicts that the visual and vibratory courtship displays function as backups to...

results both counterforce straps were effective. however, significantly more improvement was observed in pain and grip strength after using the newly modified orthosis (p < 0.05). conclusions the newly designed strap reduces pain more effectively and improves grip strength by causing greater localized pressure on two regions with different force applications (two component vectors versus one). ...

The purpose of this study was to observe changes in electromyographic activity appeared in shoulder and scapular muscles when one wears no wrist extension orthosis, short wrist extension orthosis and long wrist extension orthosis when performing two model assembling operations. The study subjects were 16 adults who use right hand and did not have any functional disorder on their wrist or the up...

We constructed a powered ankle-foot orthosis for human walking with a novel myoelectric controller. The orthosis included a carbon fiber and polypropylene shell, a metal hinge joint, and two artificial pneumatic muscles. Soleus electromyography (EMG) activated the artificial plantar flexor and inhibited the artificial dorsiflexor. Tibialis anterior EMG activated the artificial dorsiflexor. We c...

The performance and the satisfaction of the patient were quantitatively compared with the use of the volar dorsal orthosis in order to position the spastic hand. Thirty patients wearing the orthosis for eight hours daily were evaluated by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and the box and blocks test, for a three-month period. Five activities were selected (among daily life activitie...

To investigate the effects induced by wearing an orthosis during the rehabilitation process, 23 ankle sprain patients (degrees I and II) were evaluated in three conditions (reference, with an elastic compression stocking and with an orthosis), 14 h, 10 and 30 days on average after their injury and compared with those of 30 age-matched healthy individuals. The patients were tested with separate ...