OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of contouring of an in-shoe foot orthosis on plantar contact area and surface pressure, as well as perceived comfort and support at the foot-orthosis interface during stationary cycling. DESIGN A randomised, repeated measures control study. METHODS Twelve cyclists performed steady-state seated cycling at a cadence of 90 rpm using a contoured orthosis and a...

Background: Ankle-Foot orthoses are used to minimize the impact of weakness in ankle dorsiflexion muscles. The study on different orthotic types defines the optimal design, which effectively improves the users’ mobility. This study investigated the potential benefits and risks of a Dictus-band (flexible orthotic), compared with a thermoplastic (fixed) ankle-foot orthosis on the mobility of indi...

BACKGROUND Foot orthoses are frequently used in sports for the treatment of overuse complaints with sufficient evidence available for certain foot-related overuse pathologies like plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis and foot pain (e.g., metatarsalgia). One important aim is to reduce plantar pressure under prominent areas like metatarsal heads. For the forefoot region, mainly two common stra...

The loss of the grasp function in cervical spinal cord injured (SCI) patients leads to life-long dependency on caregivers and to a tremendous decrease of the quality of life. This article introduces the novel non-invasive modular hybrid neuro-orthosis OrthoJacket for the restoration of the restricted or completely lost hand and arm functions in high tetraplegic SCI individuals. The primary goal...

Twenty percent of the 6,400,000 stroke survivors alive today [1] are unable to dorsiflex the ankle [2], causing the foot to drag along the floor during swing. This can limit mobility, increasing instability and risk of tripping or falling [3]. The traditional treatment for foot drop is an ankle foot orthosis that holds the ankle in a neutral position during swing, preventing toe drag. An altern...

BACKGROUND There are a number of gaps in the evidence base for the use of ankle-foot orthoses for stroke patients. Three dimensional motion analysis offers an ideal method for objectively obtaining biomechanical gait data from stroke patients, however there are a number of major barriers to its use in routine clinical practice. One significant problem is the way in which the biomechanical data ...

Objectives. To determine the effect of weighted kypho-orthosis (WKO) on improving balance in women with osteoporosis. In this nonrandomized controlled clinical trial, 31 patients with osteoporosis were included. The patients were assigned to two groups: (1) control group who received 4-week home-based daily exercise program including weight bearing, back strengthening, and balance exercises and...

Introduction Most lower limb orthoses cannot be used without footwear. Occasionally, barefoot walking by patients fitted with orthoses may be necessary due to economic circumstances, to satisfy the dictates of religion, or for other reasons, such as the discomfort of conventional footwear in hot and humid climates. Invariably a boot or shoe is the foundation for an orthosis, with a stirrup rive...