Following joint injury, there is a high risk of developing post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), making it one of the most common and expensive global healthcare issues. Custom carbon fiber dynamic orthoses (CDOs) are known to improve mobility and reduce pain in individuals who have experienced lower limb traumatic injuries, but little is known about how CDOs directly influence muscle and joint forces in the affected limb. This presentation investigates the effect of CDO stiffness on peak muscle force and joint loads at the ankle during gait, and suggests that joint contact forces may be meaningfully reduced with CDO use, potentially preventing PTOA development.

This project describes the lived experience of families and clinicians implementing the AFO-FC intervention in ambulatory children with CP, within a combined joint orthotist/physical therapists visit practice pattern. Positive and negative themes are documented and results may inform clinical implementation of the AFO-FC related to support for shoes, clinical outcomes, efficiency of joint visits, and education of clinicians and families.

We evaluated the stiffness about the ankle of thirteen commercial Ankle Foot Orthoses. Deflection occurred in the sagittal plane and reaction moments were measured in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes.