A foot orthosis is a custom made device that controls excessive pronation or supination of the foot.

Indications for functional foot orthoses include:

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Heel Spurs
• Degenerative Joint Disease
• Pes Planus
• Shin Splints
• Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
• Metatarsalgia
• Neuroma

Diabetic shoes are specially designed therapeutic footwear, worn to reduce the risk of decubitis ulcers and to protect the neuropathic foot. Custom molded shoes are fabricated from a mold of the patient’s foot. The shoe is then specially designed to accommodate anomalies of the patient’s foot.

Indications for diabetic and custom molded shoes include:

• Diabetes
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• History of Reoccurring Decubitis Ulcers
• Arthritis
• Amputation
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Hammer Toes
• Hard to Fit Feet

Ankle Foot Orthoses or AFOs are designed to protect, support and prevent further deformity or injury to the ankle/foot complex. AFOs can be either custom fabricated (made from a mold of the patient) or prefabricated, dependant on the amount of control that is needed.

Indications for an Ankle Foot Orthosis include:

• Drop Foot
• CVA / Stroke
• Arthritis
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
• Ankle Instability
• Paralysis
• Ankle Fusion
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cerebral Palsy
• Low Tone

A Patella Tendon Bearing Orthosis or PTB is designed to unload or un-weight the ankle/foot complex through bearing weight on the patella tendon and other pressure tolerant areas. A PTB orthosis utilizes many of the same principles of lower extremity prosthetics.

Indications for a PTB Orthosis include:

• Ankle Fracture
• Plantar Surface Heel Ulcer
• Distal Tibial Fracture

Knee Orthoses are designed to support, protect, and prevent deformity of the knee joint. There are several different types of knee braces available, both prefabricated and custom molded.

Indications for a Knee Orthosis include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Knee Instability
• ACL/PCL Tear or Repair
• Varus or Valgus Deformities
• MCL/LCL Insufficiencies
• Post Operative
• Patella Dislocation
• Multiple Sclerosis

Fracture orthoses are designed to protect and prevent deformity in the case of a non displaced fracture. Lower extremity fracture orthoses are becoming common place in simple fractures. Studies have shown that allowing minimal movement of the fractured area actually promotes and stimulates bone growth to decrease the healing time. Fracture orthoses are commonly referred to as “removable casts”.

Indications for a Fracture Orthosis include:

• Fracture of the Tibia
• Fracture of the Femur

Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses or KAFOs are designed to support, protect and prevent deformity of the knee, ankle and foot complexes. KAFOs are typically custom fabricated from a mold of the patient. There are several variations that can be incorporated into a KAFO. Some of these variations include range of motion knee joints, free motion ankle joints, varus/valgus correction straps, and thigh lacers.

Indications for a Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis include:

• Instability of the Knee and Ankle
• CVA or Stroke
• Paralysis Knee Replacement
• Weak Quadriceps
• Genu Recurvatum
• Spina Bifida
• Post Polio
• Cerebral Palsy

Reciprocating Gait Orthoses or RGOs are designed to support, protect and prevent deformity of the hip, knee and ankle joints. In addition, RGOs aid in ambulation through allowing one leg to be placed infront of the other. This ambulation is achieved by linking together two KAFOs with a pelvic band and two cables that transfers movement energy from one leg to the other. As one leg is flexed and brought forward, it initiates a reciprocal extension of the contralateral leg.

Indications for a Reciprocating Gait Orthosis include:

• Paralysis
• Spinal Cord Lesions T12 to L3
• Spina Bifida
• Paraplegia
• Muscular Dystrophy

Hip Abduction Orthoses are designed to support, protect and prevent deformity of the hip joint. The hip abduction orthosis is commonly used to help prevent excessive hip flexion or extension and to limit hip adduction (the legs moving together).

Indications for a Hip Abduction Orthosis include:

Revision of a Hip Replacement

• Hip Dislocation
• Hip Dysplasia
• Hip Arthroplasty

Most all lower extremity orthoses can be fabricated out of conventional or thermoplastic materials. Conventional materials include the use of leather and metal where as thermoplastic materials are heat moldable plastics and other thermoformable materials. Each type of material has advantages and disadvantages as well as specific indications.

Indications for Conventional Materials:

• Long Time Wearer
• Skin Integrity Issues
• Swelling or Edema
• Durability

Indications for Thermoplastic Materials:

• More Control is Needed
• Cosmetic Concerns
• Lightweight
• Total Contact

Myoelectric Orthoses utilize Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to stimulate the peroneal nerve. The peroneal nerve is responsible for dorsiflexing or lifting up the foot. In a condition, such as drop foot, a Myoelectric orthosis will stimulate the peroneal nerve, thus lifting the foot and preventing toe drag. Through utilization of a Myoelectric orthosis, the patient no longer needs to wear an AFO.

Indications for a Myoelectric Orthosis includes:

• Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
• Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cerebral Palsy