Lower Extremity Orthoses for Children with Myelomeningocele JPO

Description: User and Orthotist Perspectives Adrian A. Polliack, PhD Sarah Elliot Samuel E. Landsberger, ScD Donald R. McNeal, PhD Carin Caves, BS, CO JPO 2001 Vol. 13, Num. 4 pp. 123-129
Although there are a host of positive benefits to using orthoses during childhood, the two major reasons are to improve independent function and prevent deformities. 1-4 The latter is particularly important in children. Because bone tissue is more malleable and the epiphysial plates are not ossified, bone and joint deformities can develop if forces are unbalanced or abnormal. Protective stabilization of the lower limb is thus often required to decrease skeletal changes resulting from neuromuscular dysfunction.