SMOs
Supramalleolar orthoses, SMOs, are commonly prescribed devices for young children who present with benign hypotonia and excessive pronation, or flexible pes planus – a generalized, ligamentous laxity in the foot.
Babies have to fold into a tight little ball as they develop in their mom’s womb, right? When they come out, and stretch and move those little arms and legs, we realize what a miracle it was that they ever fit inside! Their bodies
… READ MORESurestep birthday party. Physiopedia UK November 6, 2019 An orthosis by definition, is “an externally applied device used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal system.”
… READ MOREThe 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 MOREChildren 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 MOREAFOs, or Ankle Foot Orthoses, are very common types of braces worn by children with a wide variety of conditions. When used properly, AFOs can greatly enhance a child’s function, by helping her stand or walk, and may also help
… READ MORE3D printing has played a large and varied role in medical implants, devices, and more. Australian researchers from the University of Sydney recently published a methodical review, outlining the challenges in traditionally made
… READ MOREThese children often have wider, more flexible, and more pronated feet than typically developing kids that don’t fit well into conventionally sized and shaped footwear. Ill-fitting shoes are linked to foot-specific disability and
… READ MOREThe higher profile the device, the more it perturbs movement, and sometimes kids reject such orthoses because of discomfort or unwieldiness. Starting with the least restrictive device and responding to subtle changes in children’s
… READ MOREThe literature on preschool-aged and older children with Down syndrome tends to be consistent with conventional understanding of orthotic principles, but in very young children clinical decision-making about orthoses must also
… READ MOREInvestigators found 79% of children who had ever been toe-walkers spontaneously developed typical gait by 10 years of age and did so without intervention or contractures of the ankle dorsiflexion. There are a number of reasons some
… READ MOREResearchers show that regular physical activity without shoes may improve children’s and adolescents’ balancing and jumping skills. CC0 Public Domain Pixabay Science Daily July 11, 2018 New research finds that children and
… READ MOREAround the world, over 17 million people have limited control of their bodies due to cerebral palsy (CP). A diagnosis of CP can be terrifying for new parents, as they wonder whether their child will ever sit, stand, walk, feed
… READ MOREMost early anomalies in a child’s gait will work themselves out, says Dr. Peter Nieman. Childhood development can be a time of both excitement and stress. On the one hand, it is exciting for parents to document their baby’s
… READ MOREDiagnostic challenges should not delay clinical intervention. Hypotonia, or abnormally low muscle tone, is by itself not a disorder but a symptom of an enormous array of issues—many of which can be difficult to diagnose accurately.
… READ MOREA toddler has taken her first independent steps wearing revolutionary shoes made by a small company in Sydney’s west. A Mum’s Perspective – Crowdfunding 3D printed equipment for kids with disabilities. AbilityMate 9NEWS
… READ MOREImproved mobility with ankle foot orthoses and other devices can help patients experience the multiple health benefits of increased physical activity. But aggressive activity goals— including the oft-cited target of 10,000 steps per
… READ MOREWhen toddlers are learning to walk, many spend some time walking up on their tip toes, which is known as toe walking. Commonly this is to get into things they aren’t meant to, but as they perfect their walking, they walk more with
… READ MOREConsider range of motion and alignment when helping children with cerebral palsy push functional limits. A wise child once taught me, Never Say Never. AFOwear by Anthony Calabro, Healio O&P News July 2011 American Academy of
… READ MOREThe use of a carbon fiber ankle-foot orthosis with supramalleolar orthosis inner boots improved the gait of a 13-year-old patient with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, according to data presented at the Association of Children’s
… READ MOREPediatric toe walking is not necessarily idiopathic and can be the result of an underlying deficit, Megan Smith, CO, director of clinical research at Surestep, said at the Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics Annual
… READ MOREWalking barefoot on a gravel surface significantly improved gait in children with idiopathic toe walking, according to research presented here at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Assembly. Researcher Mark
… READ MOREThey are not just small adults; some things are very different, though some are just smaller. I often tell our physical medicine and rehabilitation residents in training that there are only two differences between adult and pediatric
… READ MOREPractitioners 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 MOREModern orthotic devices are designed to fit more intimately than in the past, a development that allows for more effective biomechanical correction. But this evolution has also led to an increase in the incidence of lower extremity
… READ MOREEarly care advised for FAI prevention. “…ankle sprains in children with CMT are not prevented adequately as the neurological condition is not often diagnosed in childhood, unless present in another family member. He noted that
… READ MORERegular foot checks may curb problems. A recent study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found that hallux valgus and too-narrow footwear contribute to foot-specific disability in children with Down syndrome.
… READ MOREBalance improves over time in children with cerebral palsy, CP, who switch from a dorsiflexion-free orthotic device to a more restrictive one, according to research from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in
… READ MOREIf you ask Brennan Ryan what his favorite after-school activities are, he’ll tell you, “Basketball, baseball, flag football, and Cub scouts.” Ask him what his favorite part of school is and he’ll answer, “Recess.” This
… READ MORENew research underscores years of positive clinical results. When it comes to orthotic management of pediatric patients with hypotonia, the medical literature is only beginning to document the effectiveness that clinicians have been
… READ MOREQuantifying the effects of hypotonia starts in the clinic. Effective management of children with hypotonia requires an understanding of how the condition affects gait. Clinicians typically rely on their professional experience when
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