Chapter 37: Orthoses for the muscle disease patient. Flashcards
What is myopathy?
Weakness in muscles originating in the muscle tissue is a primary disease of the muscle.
What is neuropathy?
Muscle weakness secondary to a disorder in the motor unit proximal to the muscle causing muscle atrophy or deterioration.
In patients with muscle disease, how can contracture occur?
Weakness around a joint and occur because the extent of the disorder within, or the rate of muscle deteroration between antagonist or agonist muscle groups is not the same.
Also from muscle cell death and fibrosis
In patients with muscle disorders, is there spasticity present? What does that mean orthosis wise?
no.
Braces can be light weight because they don’t need structural rigidity to oppose high tone.
What is a common deformity of neuromuscular patients? Why?
Spinal deformities because their spinal muscles are to weak to hold the spine erect.
What must be taken into consideration when treating scoliosis in patient with neuromuscular weakness?
The orthoses must only be containment devices. The patients don’t have the musculature to adjust for the corrective forces.
In spinal muscular atrophy, what do the feet tend to do?
Evert
What can be prescribed for a patient with neuromuscular disease to continue standing and walking even with weakened quadriceps?
A KAFO, but only if they don’t have a hip contracture of more than 35 degrees.
When a patient with neuromuscular disease has weak or ineffective dorsiflexors, what orthosis can be used?
An AFO to support the foot and ankle, but the patient must be able to maintain upright posture, and have good hip musculature and quad strength.
Upper extremity orthosis for the neuromuscular diseased patient seldom are used to do what?
Control limb positioning or to prevent excessive forces or movement.
What does the mobile arm support do?
It supports the weight of the arm, reducing the gravity loads on the shoulder and elbow. It can be used to make certain movements and positions easier.
What are the indicators for MAS use?
Sitting stability with or without supporting devices and elbow flexor strength of at least 2/5.
