Key Points Many health care professionals commonly see patients with some form of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). RA and OA can be highly disabling conditions that can affect many aspects of a person's life (e.g., physically,…
Key Points Burn injuries involving the hand commonly result in contracture deformity. Deep burns can result in more than just an unacceptable appearance; these patients also experience profound functional consequences for the burned hand, such as loss of fingertips, mutilated…
Key Points The goals of upper limb intervention for persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) include increased independence, prevention of secondary complications, and increased ease and efficiency of activity. Anticipatory rehabilitation refers to rehabilitation that anticipates future treatments and…
Key Points Stroke and brain injury are often complicated by the development of upper motor neuron syndrome. Most spontaneous motor recovery occurs within 6 months of stroke and traumatic brain injury. Combining the therapeutic interventions of oral antispasmodics, therapy, casting,…
Key Points Upper limb orthotics is a challenging and dynamic segment of orthotic practice because of the complexity of coordinated movements of the arm and the hand. Devices are tailored to the individual's functional need, and customized devices are often…
Key Points Achieving a functional range of motion, rather than a normal range of motion, can be an acceptable goal. This functional range of motion, however, can be represented as an overall average or as task specific. At its most…
Key Points Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of the quality of bone tissue, which can lead to an increased risk for fractures. Prevention of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) is an important consideration in patients…
Key Points The treatment team must define traumatic fractures as stable vs. unstable. With the exception of upper cervical spine fractures, only stable spine fractures can be considered for orthotic treatment. The primary goal of orthotic interventions is to increase…
Key Points The use of orthoses for treatment of spinal deformities remains controversial. The natural history of the various disorders for which orthoses are prescribed is still unclear, which limits concrete recommendations for orthotic use. The weight of the literature…
Key Points Causation of back pain is often multifactorial and may be unidentifiable. Although there is only limited evidence of benefit, the most consistent recommendation is that lumbar orthoses can be used in subacute back pain for a period of…