An active orthosis was designed to support users with reduced muscle strength with an additional knee joint torque to improve the independency in everyday activities. In two persons the hypothesis was tested that less muscle activity is necessary when standing up with the active support of a motorized orthosis. The orthosis is a custom-made knee-ankle-foot orthosis and is equipped with a series...

Infantile tibia vara is the result of abnormal growth in the proximal tibial epiphyseal late of the tibial plate. Blount first identified the condi­ tion as osteochondrosis deformans tibialis in 1937. Clinically, tibia vara presents itself as a severe bowing of the proximal tibia, without the associated bowing of the tibial shaft or the femur, which is evident in physiological bowleg. On radiol...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Correction of pectus excavatum (PE) results in measurable improvement in lung capacity and cardiac performance as well as improved appearance and self-image. The Nuss and modified Ravitch approaches attempt to correct the chest wall deformity by forcing the sternum forward in 1 step and holding it in place using a metal strut. The initial operation requires extensive manipula...

PURPOSE Non-compliance with foot abduction bracing in children with clubfeet treated with the Ponseti method is the leading risk factor for deformity recurrence. A dynamic foot abduction orthosis is believed to result in improved compliance, fewer skin complications, and fewer recurrences. A case-control trial was conducted to test this hypothesis. METHODS A prospective cohort of children wit...

OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were: (i) to evaluate the immediate effects on subluxation and gait pattern of a new shoulder orthosis, developed for treatment of painful shoulder syndrome in subacute stroke patients; and (ii) to evaluate patients' and therapists' opinions about its fit and benefits after 4 weeks. METHODS A total of 40 subacute in-rehabilitation stroke patients with non-func...

The treatment of anterolateral bowing with an intact tibia is directed toward prevention of the fracture and subsequent pseudoarthrosis. Patients with anterolateral bowing of the tibia are usually treated with an ankle-foot orthosis until the deformity is improved. There is no documentation that an orthosis can prevent the fracture or correct the deformity, and if the deformity is not corrected...

We developed a powered ankle-foot orthosis that uses artificial pneumatic muscles to produce active plantar flexor torque. The purpose of this study was to quantify the mechanical performance of the orthosis during human walking. Three subjects walked at a range of speeds wearing ankle-foot orthoses with either one or two artificial muscles working in parallel. The orthosis produced similar tot...

Our aim was to develop and evaluate a new antipronation foot orthosis that addressed problems perceived by clinicians and users with existing foot orthoses. Clinicians and users were engaged to develop a user specification for the orthosis, and orthotic geometry and materials were developed using clinical reasoning. The orthotic material properties were tested and the ability of the orthosis to...