Pediatric Orthotics Flashcards
Requirements for successful locomotion
- progression
- stability
- adaptability
- long term viability
- long distance navigation
Goals for LE orthotics in children
- enhance skeletal system development
- improve efficiency of locomotion
Enhancing Skeletal System development
- promote weight bearing in good alignment
- promote normal bone growth
- prevent deformity
Improve efficiency of locomotion
- support normal joint alignment and mechanics
- improve mechanical efficiency of muscles
- allow for variable range of motion to promote active muscle use during ambulation
psychological considerations
- parents can be affected a lot
- kids may be more affected when they go to school
- use different vocabulary to make it kid friendly (magic shoes)
Developmental and Growth considerations of orthotic prescription
- Has to do with financial resources
- they grow out of them - have to replace about every 6 months
functional limitations that may indicate the need for an orthosis
- inability to stand and/or walk
- frequent falling
- excessive fatigue
- decreased activity participation due to pain/discomfort
Impairments that contribute to the need for orthotic intervention in a child who has CP:
- abnormal muscle tone
- range of motion limitations
- muscle weakness
- decreased balance
- poor endurance
- joint and/or bony deformity
Types of orthosis typically used with children who have CP
- heel cups
- sure steps
- cascade hotdog, pattibob, pollywog
- Neurotec/Gaitway
- aquaplast splints and fiberglass casts
- custom orthoses
Heel cups
made to stabilize the calcaneus
*only used for GMFCS I
Sure Steps
Similar to SMO
*highly functioning children
Cascade hotdog, Pattibob, Pollywog
- Shoe inserts
- Purpose to control rear foot/trying to get subtalar neutral
- Minimal flexibility issues
Serial Casting
- Plaster or Fiberglass
- Used in the presence of contracture or minor deformity we are trying to correct
- Kids with increased tone in ankle and are stuck in PF may benefit
- Be careful with skin integrity –> must prevent wounds, skin breakdown, discomfort, or cutting off circulation
SMO (Super malleolus orthosis)
- Controls subtler joint positing in a more aggressive way
- severe rear foot valgus (navicular almost in WBing)
- DOES NOT CONTROL SAGITTAL PLANE
- Controls medial and lateral excessive motion
In order use an articulating AFO, how much passive ankle DF do kids need?
5 degrees
(measure correctly by locking midfoot)
What occurs if a child does not have 5 degrees of passive DF?
- foot hits the ground and tibia progresses over –> leads to skin breakdown because heel pops out of the brace
Toes Component
- Toe Lift
- Kids with high tone have toe curling that is strong, so toe lifts can help address it
- Toe 1 isn’t usually elevated by toes 2-5 are to help with dissociation between the toes and help with toe curling