Category Archives: Teachings from the East
March 2013
CEREBRAL PALSY: Dynamic devices facilitate compliance, outcomes in children with cerebral palsy
Brace wear time, not torque, is key – Dynamic orthoses offer an effective alternative to static devices for management of tip-toe gait and knee flexion contracture in children with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly because the dynamic devices are associated with greater compliance, according to separate studies from Sweden and France.
March 2013
OSTEOARTHRITIS: Knee braces and wedged insoles both alter gait in patients with knee OA
A Taiwanese study offers more evidence that offloading knee braces and wedged foot orthoses are both associated with significant biomechanical improvements in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
March 2013
DIABETES: More results support use of foot orthoses to significantly decrease plantar pressures
Swedes also find low ulceration rate – Research from Sweden and Egypt provides more evidence that foot orthoses can significantly decrease plantar pressures in patients with diabetes, theoretically reducing the risk of foot ulcers and lower extremity amputation.
March 2013
FLAT FOOT: Arch structure in children with talipes planovalgus improves with shoe inserts
Orthotic management of pediatric talipes planovalgus starting at an early age is associated with significant improvement in weightbearing arch structure, according to research from Saga University in Japan.
March 2013
OFFLOADING: Walkers’ effect on proximal biomechanics varies depending on design characteristics
Tibial inclination appears significant – Orthotic walkers have significant effects on proximal joint mechanics during gait, the extent of which appear to depend on individual device design, according to research from the University of Central Lancashire in the UK.
March 2013
PEDIATRICS: In hyperpronators, functional scoliosis responds to distal orthotic treatment
What appears to be idiopathic scoliosis may actually be functional scoliosis that can be effectively treated with foot orthoses in children who are hyperpronators, according to research from Chungnam National University in Daejeon, South Korea.
March 2013
STROKE: Eight weeks of early AFO use significantly enhances benefits of stroke rehabilitation
Functional balance test scores rise – Use of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) within six weeks of stroke results in better balance outcomes and earlier independent ambulation than if AFO use is delayed, according to research from the Netherlands.
