- Orthoses (orthosis in singular) are externally fitted devices which support the musculoskeletal system
- They’re often used temporarily, but in some conditions permanent orthoses are necessary
- Uses
- After operation or injury, to promote recovery until full recovery is achieved
- Reduce weight-bearing forces on the limb
- Restrict movement in a certain direction
- Immobilize an extremity or joint
- Correct abnormal shape or function of an extremity or joint
- Offloading of a region of a pressure ulcer
- Naming
- Orthoses are named after the joints they contain or their function
- An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is applied to the foot and ankle
- An ulcer-healing orthosis offloads the region of a foot ulcer, allowing for healing
- Foot orthoses – see orthopaedic shoes
- Ankle-foot orthoses
- For temporary fixation of the ankle
- Used after trauma and operations
- Knee orthoses
- For temporary fixation of the knee
- Used to prevent lateral instability or hyperextension
- Knee-ankle-foot orthoses
- Used in muscle weakness, knee instability, genu valgum or genu varum
- Hip orthoses
- Used in DDH (Pavlik harness)
- Also used in infantine cerebral palsy and after trauma
- Hip-knee-ankle-foot orthoses
- Transfer weight-bearing to the sciatic tuber
- Used in Perthes disease
- Spinal orthoses
- Used in degenerative spinal disorders, vertebral fractures, scoliosis, etc.
- Wrist orthoses
- Used in carpal tunnel syndrome
- Orthopaedic shoes and insoles
- Custom-made shoes or insoles used to compensate for orthopaedic conditions
- Uses
- To equalize limb length discrepancies
- To remove pressure from some parts of the foot
- To distribute pressure across the whole foot
- In diabetes, other neuropathies
- To prevent deformities of the foot
- To soften the impact of the heel-strike
- To compensate for valgus or varus of the ankle