Search Results for Elaine Owen

Principles of Ankle-Foot Orthosis Prescription in Ambulatory Bilateral Cerebral Palsy

Brittany, a patient at Shriners Hospital for Children—Chicago rides an adaptive bike with a recreation therapist. Shriners Hospital for Children, Chicago photo. Abstract Maintenance of upright posture and gait mobility is frequently … READ MORE

Early orthotic intervention in pediatric patients, Part 2: Down syndrome, other neurological conditions, and toe walking

The Case For Early Intervention. Down Syndrome is associated with a long list of compensatory gait symptoms due to hypotonia, triplanar foot and ankle misalignments, sagittal and coronal compensation at the knee, proximal weakness, … READ MORE

Early orthotic intervention in pediatric patients, Part 1: Cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) typically encounter a host of gait- and balance-related issues associated with spasticity, dyskinesia, and weakness. How severe these are depends on CP type and the individual case. As a result, … READ MORE

Fine-tuning orthotic device prescription and fitting in CP

Half of those diagnosed with cerebral palsy have been prescribed standard AFOs to aid in walking, according to United Cerebral Palsy and the CDC. A patient with CP at Shriners Hospital for Children—Chicago wearing his customized … READ MORE

Quantifying functional effects of AFO alignment

Assessing device alignment is a key aspect of prosthetic practice, but when it comes to lower extremity orthotics the process is less common. That’s changing, however, as researchers begin to document the effects of alignment on … READ MORE

AFO stiffness can help optimize patient function

Decisions related to the stiffness of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO)—whether they involve device design or the materials from which it’s fabricated—can help lower extremity clinicians customize stability, biomechanics, and muscle … READ MORE

New approaches to orthotic management in children with cerebral palsy

Practitioners look to novel ways of using familiar lower limb orthotic alternatives to complement new technology. No single treatment is appropriate for every child, but it is generally agreed that the sooner intervention is started … READ MORE

Walking study in CP highlights need for tailored orthotic prescription

Effects of AFOs on distance, speed vary.. A recent study demonstrates the importance of personalizing prescriptions for ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) in children with cerebral palsy, rather than applying group data to individuals. … READ MORE

Shoe flexibility influences gait in early walkers

Sole stiffness affects stance time. A recent study published in the winter issue of Pediatric Physical Therapy found that children just learning to walk may have altered gait characteristics when wearing flexible shoes. Myths about … READ MORE

Rockers and rollovers: Implications for AFOs

Practitioners and researchers are redefining rocking and rolling as key components of gait, and designing ankle foot orthoses and other orthotic and prosthetic devices to specifically address impairments in the way certain patients … READ MORE

Biomechanics of propulsion: Implications for AFOs

For many patients, the ability of an ankle foot orthosis to enhance propulsion is key to improving gait efficiency and reducing fatigue. But experts are only beginning to understand the biomechanical complexities that influence … READ MORE

AFO tuning: Balancing function and satisfaction

Tuning of ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) and AFO footwear combinations can significantly improve gait in patients with neuromuscular impairments. Even so, some patients still prefer their untuned devices, which has led researchers and … READ MORE