Conventional neurological practice is generally not successful in restoring independent upper extremity function to people with disabiling tremors. The authors have been investigating an orthotic approach, the application of energy-dissipating loads to affected limbs, to allow voluntary intent to be expressed while attenuating tremor. CEDO 1 is a prototype Controlled-Energy-Dissipation Orthosis...

Background The use of dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses (DEFOs) for the treatment of neurological scoliosis has become an accepted form of orthotic treatment within many leading centres in the UK. The use of rigid or semirigid orthoses in this group have proven to be difficult due to reduced acceptance and discomfort. This paper will discuss the use of DEFOs as a first line of orthotic manage...

The purpose of this study was to determine the cause and effect relationship between tibial internal rotation and pronation of the foot during walking and heel-toe running. This would allow predictions of orthotic effectiveness in reducing knee pain related to excessive internal tibial rotation. Kinematic and force plate data were collected from twenty subjects performing ten running and ten wa...

This study is the first phase of research aimed at developing new educational approaches to enhance occupational therapy students' orthosis fabrication skills. Before the effectiveness of training can be determined, a method for evaluating performance must be established. Using the Delphi method, we developed a global rating scale and checklist for evaluating technical competence when fabricati...

Many investigations on orthotic devices for araplegics have been undertaken during the last 5 years. Ferris et al. 1 investigated an ankleoot orthosis powered by artificial pneumatic uscles. Harwin 2 discussed the theoretical coniderations for the design of simple teleoperators nd powered orthosis. Despite substantial adances, a suitable orthosis that gives paraplegics a inimum ability to walk ...

A single-dject, alternating-treatment design was used to investigate dzferenc~~ in sn-ide characteristics of a hemiparetic sdyect under three conditions: 1) barefoot, 2) using a prefabricatedplastic molded ankle-jiwt orthosis (AFO), and 3) using a tone-inhibiting dynamic ankle-foot orthis (TIAFO). Five barefoot baseline SRFsions were conducted. Following these baseline sessions, the thee condit...

Users of traditional knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) walk with either locked or unlocked knee joints depending on the level of stability required. Some users may benefit from new stance-control KAFOs that prevent stance-phase knee flexion but allow swing-phase flexion. We collected data from nine nondisabled adults who walked with KAFOs that incorporated the Horton Stance-Control Orthotic Knee...

[3] or is moving an exercise machine or an orthotic device. In systems of this nature, the human arm dynamics are integrated with the machine dynamics, resulting in behavior specific to the total system. The performance and stability of the system taken as a whole are both functions of not only the machine dynamics, but also the human arm dynamics. Evideoce for instability in a human-machine sy...

Background Custom made foot orthoses remain the ‘gold standard’ because the orthotic geometry is tailored to each patient’s foot. However, due to their reduced cost, in some contexts there has been an increasing preference for prefabricated orthoses. Research has failed to identify major differences between the two types of orthosis [1-4]. This project aimed to design, develop and evaluate a ne...

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is af requently reported condition. A wide variety of treatment strategies has been described. Asy et, no optimal strategy has been identified. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of orthotic devices for treatment of tennis elbow. An electronic database search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Controlled Trial Regis...