STANCE CONTROL ORTHOSES: AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME?


John W. Michael, M.Ed., C.P.O., F.I.S.P.O, F.A.A.O.P.
President, CPO Services, Inc.
2005 Wild Rose Trail
Portage, IN  46368-1683
312-577-0990 voice/fax


ABSTRACT:

For many decades, rehabilitation experts have been searching for an orthosis that will safely support a weakened or paralyzed leg without locking the knee and interfering with swing phase function.  Engineering, safety, and manufacturing challenges have made this simple concept very difficult to achieve in a practical way.

In January of 2002, an orthotist from Little Rock, Arkansas stunned the world by introducing Horton’s Stance Control Orthotic Knee Joint [SCOKJ], a component that automatically engages and disengages a lock against flexion, simultaneously offering the patient stance phase security and swing phase toe clearance.  Since that time, additional stance control systems have become available.

This presentation will review key articles depicting the evolution of expert thinking in this area, and highlight the various approaches currently being investigated.  Preliminary studies suggest that permitting knee flexion during swing phase is likely to substantially reduce the energy cost of ambulation for the users.  Data from the University of Central Arkansas Motion Analyis Laboratory corroborating this trend will be discussed.

Extensive use of multimedia animation and video case presentations will illustrate the concepts presented, and depict the clinical function of SCOs.
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