Orthotist

A number of textile-based fiber optic sensors have recently been proposed for the continuous monitoring of vital signs. However, some of these sensors are likely unsuitable for conducting direct measurements on the torso as they lack elasticity and are inconvenient. This project provides a novel method for creating a force-sensing smart textile by inlaying four silicone-embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors into a knitted undergarment. The applied force was determined within 3 N after transferring the Bragg wavelength...

INTRODUCTION: Physical boundaries to access skilled orthotist or hand therapy care may be hindered by multiple factors, such as geography, or availability. This study evaluated the accuracy of fitting a prefabricated wrist splint using an app on a smart device. We hypothesize that remote brace fitting by artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately determine the brace size the patient needs without in-person fitting. METHODS: Healthy volunteers were recruited to fit wrist braces...

The aim of this work was to study the different types of passive articulated and non-articulated ankle-foot orthoses for gait rehabilitation in terms of working principles, control mechanisms, features, and limitations, along with the recent clinical trials on AFOs. An additional aim was to categorize them to help engineers and orthotists to develop novel designs based on this research. Based on selected keywords and their composition, a search was performed on the ISI Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases from 1990 to 2022...

INTRODUCTION: Hand orthoses are often provided to improve performance of activities of daily life (ADL). Yet, the manufacturing process of conventional custom-fabricated hand orthoses is a time-consuming and labour-intensive process. Even though three-dimensional (3D) printing of orthoses is a rapidly growing area that can facilitate the manufacturing process of hand orthoses, evidence on the effectiveness, costs and production time of 3D-printed orthoses in chronic hand conditions is scarce...

BACKGROUND: The provision of therapeutic footwear, to prevent the development of diabetic foot ulcers by re-distributing high peak plantar pressure is frequently prescribed for patients with diabetes. Areas of interest (ROI) are identified by placing boxes on the visualised pressure movie. The aims were to evaluate the inter-reliability of the placements of seven ROI boxes and to explore how the box placement affected peak pressure in the seven ROIs. METHODS: Plantar pressure movies from 20 of a total of 40 movies were selected for the analysis...

The conventional manufacturing methods for fabricating orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) devices have been in practice for a very long time. Recently, O&P service providers have started exploring different advanced manufacturing techniques. The objective of this paper is to perform a mini review on recent progress in the use of polymer-based additive manufacturing (AM) for O&P devices and to gather insights from the O&P professionals on the current practices and technologies and on the prospect of using AM techniques in this field...

Foot-drop is one of the most diagnosed and physically limiting symptoms persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience. Clinicians prescribe ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) devices to help alleviate the effects of foot drop, but it is unclear how their clinical and functional gait improvements compare given the user's level of disability, type of multiple sclerosis, walking environment, or desired physical activity. The research questions explored were what is the current state of AFO and FES research for pwMS? What are the prevailing research trends? What definitive clinical and functional device comparisons exist for pwMS? eight databases were systematically searched for relevant literature published between 2009 and 2021...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a foot self-management strategy that utilized a commercially-available infrared thermometer (CAIT) for prevention of diabetic foot ulcers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this six-month pilot randomized controlled trial, Phase 2 of a three-phase mixed methods research study, 62 participants were randomized to a thermometer and education group (n = 34) and an education-only group (n = 26). Both groups received foot care education and were assessed by a certified orthotist...

BACKGROUND: Individuals living with diabetes run an increased risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), leading to high costs to society and reduced quality of life for the individual. Regular screening is important to avoid complications. AIM: To evaluate patients' and clinicians' experiences of using a digital tool, the D-Foot, in the screening of risk factors for developing DFUs. The secondary aims were to investigate whether patients had had their feet examined by a nurse or doctor during the past year, had been referred to podiatry and whether patients had received information about self-care...

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular disease that limits patients' walking ability. Persistent ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) use may increase the distance patients can walk as well as physical activity. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the implementation and patients' perspectives related to the use or disuse of the AFO intervention six months post-intervention. This study was guided by a semi-structured interview and survey based on the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) constructs...

PURPOSE: We sought to explore the common challenges across stakeholder groups and also to recognize interactions among them to improve the Iranian prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) sector. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interviews were performed from January to June 2019. Participants, including 13 prosthetists/orthotists and six P&O faculty members, were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. The collected data were analyzed using the framework analysis method...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze cranial width and length growth curves in the early postoperative period of patients by undergoing endoscopic sagittal strip craniectomy (ESC) to determine the timing of the maximal growth curve change. By analyzing the complex interplay of cephalic length and width measurements, we hope to better understand the cephalic index (CI) growth curve during this early period. This is the first of a multistep process to elucidate the ideal cranial remolding orthosis (CRO) treatment duration...

To describe the process of developing a craniosynostosis decision aid. We conducted a mixed-methods exploratory study between August 2019 and March 2020 to develop a decision aid about surgical treatment for single suture craniosynostosis. A single tertiary care academic children's hospital. The decision aid development team consisted of surgeons, research fellows, a clinical nurse practitioner, clinical researchers with expertise in decision science, and a university-affiliated design school. Qualitative interviews (N = 5) were performed with families, clinicians (N = 2), and a helmeting orthotist to provide feedback on decision aid content, format, and usability...

The appropriate treatment of the common diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in diabetic patients demands enormous human, organizational and financial resources that are finite. Interdisciplinary teams of medical and surgical specialists, as well as allied health professionals, can help to reduce the consumption of these resources, optimize treatment, and prevent DFUs. They consist primarily of vascular surgeons, endocrinologists, and orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons and are closely supported when required by infectious diseases specialists, plastic surgeons, wound care specialist nurses, podiatrists, and orthotists...

BACKGROUND: Transverse congenital limb deficiency is a common limb deficiency where there is normal limb development until a certain point, beyond which no anatomical structure exists. Typically, this presents as an isolated and spontaneous abnormality as a result of arrest during limb bud development. Transverse bilateral deficiency in both upper and lower limbs is not well described. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the cases of two female Ethiopian amhara siblings, aged 6 years and 5 months, respectively, from Ethiopia with similar transverse bilateral upper and lower limb deficiencies...

BACKGROUND: The sagittal plane alignment of ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) and AFO footwear combinations (AFO-FC) has been shown to influence gait outcomes. As such, clinicians often target a particular alignment during the fabricating and fitting of an AFO to maximize outcomes. RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the alignment of an AFO change during the fabrication and fitting process with respect to the intended, benchmark sagittal plane alignment identified by the consulting orthotist? STUDY DESIGN: Prospective METHODS: The assessment of AFO alignment was performed using a convenience sample of 125 custom molded AFOs from 68 individuals fabricated at our center (57 bilateral AFOs, 11 unilateral AFOs)...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate rigid ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) prescription practices for adult men among UK orthotists. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using a survey was distributed online to UK orthotists by the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists to its members and through social media and orthotic networks. The survey was completed between November 1, 2020, and November 29, 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive statistics of survey results include information related to the material used, the thickness of the material, positive cast rectification, AFO reinforcement, footplate design, padding, strapping system, and height of AFO...

BACKGROUND: Children with symptomatic flat feet (pes planus) frequently present for care but there remains uncertainty about how best to manage their condition. There is considerable variation in practice between and within professions. We intend to conduct a three-arm trial to evaluate three frequently used interventions for pes planus (exercise and advice, exercise and advice plus prefabricated orthoses, and exercise and advice plus custom made orthoses). Each of these interventions are complex and required developing prior to starting the trial...

Physician extenders and advanced practice providers (APPs) are now common in most adult and pediatric orthopaedic clinics and practices. Their utilization, with physician leadership, can improve patient care, patient satisfaction, and physician satisfaction and work/life balance in addition to having financial benefits. Physician extenders can include scribes, certified athletic trainers, and registered nurses, while APPs include nurse practitioners and physician assistants/associates. Different pediatric orthopaedic practices or divisions within a department might benefit from different physician extenders or APPs based on particular skill sets and licensed abilities...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical resources available for the assessment of health outcomes in people with lower limb amputation and to understand barriers and facilitators associated with use of standardized outcome measures in clinical practice. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: General community (online). PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of prosthetic practitioners was recruited through national professional organizations...