Device Fitting & Adjustment Flashcards

A patient returns with a custom foot orthosis (CFO) complaining that it slides forward in the shoe. The MOST effective solution is:

Answer: Check shoe fit and recommend a shoe with a firm heel counter

A firm heel counter in the shoe holds the heel in place, preventing the orthosis and foot from sliding forward during gait.

When adjusting plantarflexion resistance in a posterior leaf spring (PLS) AFO, trimming the lateral borders of the plastic will:

Answer: Decrease plantarflexion resistance (increase flexibility)

Trimming the lateral borders of a PLS AFO narrows the cross-section of plastic, reducing stiffness and decreasing plantarflexion resistance.

Which measurement is essential before selecting an off-the-shelf lumbosacral orthosis (LSO) to ensure proper fit?

Answer: Waist circumference at the umbilicus

Waist circumference at the umbilicus is the primary sizing measurement for most off-the-shelf LSOs as it determines the panel and strap length needed.

A patient with a tibial fracture brace (PTB orthosis) reports pain at the patellar tendon bar after one week of use. The technician should first:

Answer: Assess the bar position and lower it if it is too proximal

Pain at the patellar tendon bar often results from the bar being positioned too proximally, compressing the patella rather than the tendon; lowering it corrects this.

For a diabetic patient requiring an AFO, which liner material provides the BEST combination of pressure relief and moisture management?

Answer: Plastazote (polyethylene foam)

Plastazote is heat-moldable, pressure-distributing, and lightweight, making it the preferred liner for insensate diabetic feet at risk for skin breakdown.

When checking the rotational alignment of a KAFO, the technician should ensure the knee joint axis is:

Answer: Aligned with the anatomical knee flexion axis in the frontal plane

The mechanical knee joint axis of the KAFO must align with the anatomical knee flexion axis to allow smooth, pain-free motion without tissue stress.

A patient fitted with a cock-up splint for radial nerve palsy finds that the fingers tend to curl into flexion. The most appropriate modification is to:

Answer: Add a dorsal finger extension assist attachment

A dorsal finger extension assist attachment (dynamic outrigger) supports the fingers in extension, addressing the metacarpophalangeal drop caused by radial nerve palsy.