Lower Extremity Bracing Flashcards
1
Q
Describe a hip abduction brace
A
- Most commonly seen for pt following total hip replacement if dislocation is a concern
- Limits hip flexion & maintains hip in slightly abducted position for increased femoroacetabular stability
2
Q
Describe post-op knee braces
A
- Allow precise protection & ROM with extension settings from -10º to 90º and flexion settings at -10º to 120º
3
Q
Describe prophylactic knee orthoses
A
- Knee braces that are designed to mitigate or altogether prevent soft tissue injury, usually ligamentous, to the healthy knee
4
Q
MOI for ACL injuries
A
- Most ACL injuries are non-contact related
- Injuries are often associated with a sudden deceleration, change of direction or landing
5
Q
Indications for a DonJoy Defiance III knee brace
A
- Hyperextension
- Moderate to severe ACL or PCL instabilities
- ACL/PCL instabilities combined
- MCL/LCL instabilities
- ACL or PCL reconstruction
- Prophylactic use
6
Q
Describe the DonJoy Playmaker knee brace
A
- Ligament brace
- Recommend for non-contact sport & activities of daily living
- Suitable for mild to moderate ligament instabilities
7
Q
To brace or not to brace after an ACL reconstruction
A
- Bracing may offer some protection of the implanted graft after ACL reconstruction without sacrificing function, ROM, or proprioception
- There is limited evidence to suggest that routine functional bracing decreases the rate of re-injury after ACL reconstruction
8
Q
Relationship between bracing and proprioception
A
- The aim of knee bracing is to reduce pain & improve knee joint control through mechanical support of the joint
- Proprioception has also been identified as an important mechanism in managing knee instability and ACL injuries
- Skin contact from bracing could provide more afferent info to the brain due to cutaneous sensory stimulation & thereby improve neuromuscular control of the knee joint
9
Q
Evidence for propriiocepttiive bracing
A
- Brace improves the control of the peak valgus & ER velocities
- Can influence strategy of movement
- Participants wearing the brace landed in a more neutral knee position during pivot turn jumps
- Use of brace in sports where one leg turning movements frequently occur may help to decrease risk of knee soft tissue injuries
10
Q
Describe the DonJoy Tru-Pull Lite knee brace
A
- Patellofemoral brace
- For acute mild to moderate lateral patellar subluxation or dislocation & maltracking
11
Q
Implications of a patellofemoral brace & quadriceps strength
A
- Clinicians can encourage individuals with PFJ OA pain to use a flexible knee support without concern of a deleterious effect on quadriceps strength or activation over a 12 wk period
- Caution: comparison b/w the brace & no brace groups was limited to 6 wk follow-up, long term effects are unknown
12
Q
Describe unicompartmental OA
A
- Varus alignment increases the mechanical load & risk of medial compartmental OA
- Valgus alignment affects the lateral compartment
- For unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis, unloading type knee braces are more appropriate to unload the affected compartment and realign the knee joint
13
Q
Evidence for “Unloader” knee braces
A
- Cost effective
- Provide pain relief in unicompartmental knee OA
- Should be used in conjunction with other conservative Tx & be considered before any type of surgical intervention
- More research needed to identify optimal pt to benefit from unloader knee braces
- Primary complications associated with skin integrity
14
Q
When would you use a fixed ankle walker brace
A
- Acute Ankle Sprains
- Swelling Management
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Syndesmosis (High Ankle) Sprains
- Stress fracture of lower leg/ankle
- Forefoot/Mid Foot/Hind Foot Pain and Injury
- Stable Foot and/or Stable Ankle Fractures
- Post ORIF & Surgical Stabilization
- Post Tendon/Ligament Repairs
- Tarsal, Metatarsal & Phalange Fractures
- Post Bunion Surgery, Achilles Tendon Ruptures and/or Repairs
15
Q
When would you use a hinged ankle brace
A
- Sub-acute ankle sprains
- Chronic ankle instabilities
- Prophylactic use
