Orthotist

How to Measure Range of Motion of Forearm Supination

Forearm supination is the amount of movement involved when the arm rotates into a palm-upward position. Although this measurement varies based on individual bony structure and mobility, as well as soft tissue tension, the average is 80 to 90...

How to Measure the Range of Motion of Wrist Supination

Range of motion is the amount of movement in any given joint. The wrist and elbow joint are involved in supination of the arm. Normal range for supination is 80 to 90 degrees, although this can vary from person to person based on bony structure...

How to Measure Range of Motion of Elbow Supination

Elbow supination takes place at the wrist and elbow, allowing the hand to rotate upward. Normal elbow supination ranges from 80 to 90 degrees. This can vary from person to person, based on bony structure and mobility, and soft tissue tension....

How to Wear a Back Support While You Sleep

Back supports, or orthoses, are used by people rehabilitating from a back injury or surgery. The belts are intended to provide additional support while the back heals, and come in a variety of forms, ranging from cervical braces to corset-like...

Normal Neck Range of Motion

Having normal range of motion in your neck is important for carrying out the activities of daily living. Neck movements include flexion, extension, bending and rotation. Soft tissue injuries and bony immobility can restrict your range of motion....

A List of Durable Medical Equipment Needed for Orthopedics

Equipment used in orthopedics can be divided into two categories. First are items that are worn. They are used to support and stabilize weak or traumatized body parts and include back braces; cervical collars; wrist, hand and elbow splints; and...

AFO Bracing in Children

The Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFO) is a common orthotic used to brace the ankle for children with impaired ankle function. AFOs are typically used for children with difficulty standing or walking due to ankle strength or positioning, or for children...

Medicare Regulations for Diabetic Shoes

Medicare developed its diabetic shoe program with the intention of saving money by preventing foot ulcers and, ultimately, foot amputations. Foot ulcers are common afflictions, but can have devastating consequences in people in more advanced...

Exercises for Scoliosis of the Spine

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine develops a sideways curve. It can be in the upper, middle or lower back and for most individuals the cause is unknown. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases states...

4 Ways to Benefit from a Neck Brace

Neck braces are generally prescribed by a doctor to provide stability after an injury, surgery or to prevent certain deformities of the spine from becoming worse. There are many varieties of neck braces available, so if you do not receive yours...

Do Podiatrists Remove Corns?

A corn is a spot on the foot made of skin that has thickened as a response to pressure. Though the skin buildup is the body's way of protecting itself, when it goes on too long, the resulting corn can be painful. When the problem is serious enough...

Foot Drop & Physical Therapy: Spasms

Foot drop and leg muscle spasms often occur after a stroke or other brain injury or for people with cerebral palsy, muscular sclerosis or Parkinson's disease. Because of the weakness of your foot and ankle muscles or because of spasms, you will...

Podiatry Treatments for Charcot Foot Problems

Charcot foot, or neuropathic osteopathy, is a degenerative disorder of the feet that is progressive and debilitating. According to the Podiatry Channel, it occurs as a result of nerve damage, or neuropathy, and is characterized by decreased...

Workout Shoes for People With Ankle Problems

Shoes wear down after about 300 hours of aerobic activity. Additionally, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the wrong kinds of shoes for your specific sport and improperly fitted shoes can cause ankle and foot...

Infant Neck Muscle Problems After Birth

Congenital muscular torticollis, or CMT, is by far the most common neck problem infants experience. According to the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, CMT effects 1 in every 300 newborns. While this condition can be troubling to...

How to Get Rid of Blisters From Rowing

Blisters occur in response to friction, when your skin rubs against skin or against an object. In rowing, blisters typically form on the fingers and palms where the oar handles rub against your skin. If your hands become wet with water or sweat,...

How to Assist for Active Range of Motion Exercises

After surgery or an injury, patients need to slowly resume exercises to regain range of motion in the affected limb. The muscles may be too weakened from a prolonged period of inactivity, requiring assistance to regain range of motion. You can...

How to Restore Range of Motion

Restoring your range of motion, which is the amount of movement in each joint, is most effectively done through regular stretching. When done properly, stretches allow for a return to normal length and flexibility of the soft tissue surrounding...

Tips for Crutches

Many conditions and injuries to the lower extremities make it necessary for a person to walk with some level of limitation to weight-bearing, or simply with additional support. Major benefits of crutches include broadening the base of support and...

How to Heal Blisters Fast From a Baseball Bat

Blisters generally occur when an object moves across the skin in a manner that creates friction. On the hands, baseball bats and other handheld sports equipment cause blisters when they rub against delicate skin on the fingers and palm, causing...

List of Dynamic Splint Shoulder Stretching Machines

If your physician is concerned about the loss of range of motion in a joint, especially after surgery, he may prescribe a continuous passive motion machine or a dynamic splint. These devices move the affected joint through a prescribed range of...

Smart Shopping for Back Braces

Lower back pain commonly affects a large portion of the population. This pain can limit progression of activities throughout daily life, and there are noninvasive modalities such as back braces which can help reduce the pain. Back braces are best...

What Are the Causes of Diabetic Foot Sores?

In 1990 the National Centers for Disease Control estimated that there were 14 million people affected by diabetes. They estimate that 25 percent will develop foot problems, making it a major public health concern. People with diabetes are at...

Plastic Leg Brace Complications

Plastic leg braces must fit a variety of people. Often made of a thermoplastic moldable material, such braces can be customized to fit. Some examples of plastic leg braces include ankle foot orthosis (AFO) for foot drop, a knee ankle foot orthosis...

Degenerative Changes of the Thoracic Spine

The thoracic spine is the mid-portion of your back and extends from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. It is made up of 12 thoracic vertebrae, which are separated by soft spongy discs that aid in shock absorption. The thoracic...

Prosthetics for Hiking

Hiking is precarious for amputees. Walking on uneven terrain and varying surfaces is a test of courage for the amputee and a test of the quality of his prosthesis. In the early 21st century, prosthesis are available for a growing number of sports,...

The Relationship Between Flat Feet & Leg Pain

If you have flat feet, you have lots of company: around 25 percent of Americans have pes planus, the medical term for flat feet, according to Dr. Bruce Sangeorzan of the University of Washington. For most people, flat feet cause no symptoms other...

Tips for Walking on Crutches

Many conditions and injuries to the lower extremities make it necessary for a person to walk with some level of limitation to weight-bearing, or simply with additional support. Major benefits of crutches include broadening the base of support and...

Home Exercise Plan for a Transtibial Amputation

Following an exercise regimen after a transtibial amputation is essential, even after you are discharged from treatment, according to East Kent Hospitals University. Home exercises can help stretch and strengthen your muscles to help promote...