An orthosis is generally an individually designed or customised device, which is applied to the external part of the body to provide support and protection for that particular area of the body. It uses integrates biomechanical principles to realign joints and reduce pain. The design, materials and function of the orthosis are based on a patient assessment, including their medical history, biomechanical principles and the individual needs of the user.
Commonly prescribed orthoses include
Foot Orthoses (FOs), for various foot, leg or postural problems; there is significant variety in terms of their design and manufacturing methods.
Ankle Orthoses (AOs) and Knee Orthoses (KOs), for joint protection, pain reduction or support after surgery
Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) and Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFOs), to improve mobility, support rehabilitation and biomechanical goals
Various upper-limb orthoses, to provide positional and functional support to the upper limb
Fracture orthoses, modern alternative to plaster or fibre glass casts
Spinal Orthoses, to correct or control spinal deformities and injuries and to provide immobilisation or support to spinal injuries
Some individuals have more complex injuries / changes to one of the multiple joint structures and therefore require a customised orthosis. This may be particularly true in neurological conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or after brain injury, such as traumatic brain jury (TBI) or stroke. In these cases, spasticity of muscles may have an impact on the patient’s function. Orthotics can be used both in resting and during mobility to improve the effects of spasticity or reduce the risk of contractures. In which case the orthotic will be specifically measured to the individual, and likely to be redone as the individual grows (in paediatrics) or as changes are made to joint structures.
Customized Orthosis
Custom orthotics are specially-made devices designed to support and comfort you. Prescribed orthotics are crafted for you and no one else. They match the contours of you precisely and are designed for the way you move. Orthotics are only manufactured after a podiatrist/Physio/doctors has conducted a complete evaluation of your feet, ankles, and legs, so the orthotic can accommodate your unique structure.
Custom made orthosis according to the correction required depending upon the service user
Diabetic care – insoles diabetic care and wound Care Management crow walker for charcoat foot.
Paediatric orthosis – CTEV, Dobb’s bar, pelvic harness, SWASH brace, custom made orthosis according to the condition.
Insoles, SMO, AFO, KASO, RGO, Spinal orthosis, upper limb orthosis available solutions
Prefabricated Orthosis
Which is pre-made and is subsequently customized to meet the specific needs of the client. These orthoses are often prescribed for short term use or in the case of non-complex clinical presentations. A variety of health practitioners are involved in fitting a small range of prefabricated orthoses, however orthotist/prosthetists are the only health professionals qualified to fit orthoses to the entire body. It is also important to note that all pre-fabricated orthoses should be modified and customized to fit the client and ensure the treatment goals are met and the best functional outcome obtained.