Orthotics Services: From Pain to Relief
Orthotics is a specialized field in medicine that focuses on the design, manufacture, and application of orthoses. Orthoses are mechanical or electromechanical devices that are used to modify the characteristics, both structural and functional, of the neuromuscular and skeletal system.
An orthotist is someone who is responsible for the prescription, manufacture, and management of orthoses. An orthosis has many functions such as: controlling and guiding an extremity or joint, restrict or immobilize movement in a particular direction, facilitate movement, reduce weight bearing forces for a specific purpose, help in rehabilitation from fractures as well as to correct the shape and function of the body thus providing easier movement capability or reducing pain.
Orthotics is a mix of knowledge from anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, biomechanics, and engineering. Individuals who suffer from conditions such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy and those who have gone through a spinal cord injury or stroke can benefit from orthotics services.
Why People Think Services Are A Good Idea
There are three types of orthoses: upper limb orthoses, lower limb orthoses, and spinal orthoses. As the name suggests, upper limb orthoses are devices that are applied externally to the arm or its segments like the clavicle, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hands to restore or improve function. Lower limb orthoses are applied to a lower-body segment. It can help stabilize gait and reduce pain by transferring load to another area. Major types of lower limb orthoses are the ankle foot orthoses, knee orthoses, and prophylactic, functional, and rehabilitation braces. Scoliosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine, can be aided by spinal orthoses. This condition commonly develops in adolescent females going through their pubertal growth spurt. Spinal orthoses can also be used to treat spinal fractures.
A 10-Point Plan for Treatments (Without Being Overwhelmed)
It is important to find a clinic that provides good orthotics services since this is a major factor that could improve your condition. There are plenty of firms that offer this type of service in Canada. There are orthotics services in Toronto, North York, and Etobicoke. One important reason to get orthotics services is to get relief from acute pain caused by injuries. With this, a rigid evaluation is important to ensure that other serious causes are not ignored.
Another important reason for getting good orthotics services is because it can help reposition structures in the injured areas to improve biomechanical function and reduce chances of further injury. Additionally, it can provide support for parts of the body that are always being used and put under pressure. Additional support can come in the form of custom molded orthotics. It can be geared toward something that an individual can wear every day. Custom made gear also provides value for money since it can be used for many years.
There are several factors to consider before prescribing orthoses. The clinic team should ensure that the prescription of an orthosis is a good fit for the patient and to assess the wearer’s ease of function while wearing it. They are primarily responsible for managing the patient’s rehabilitation. Other factors to consider is the end goal of the prescription as well as to evaluate and identify the pathomechanical disorders that can disturb the patient’s function. The prescription should also identify the places where the patient would most likely use the orthosis such as the individual’s home or community and ensure that these places can accommodate the device.
Even though is seems that orthotics is only focused on the physical aspect of recovery, it is also important to evaluate the patient’s cognitive, emotional, and social status when preparing the prescription for an orthosis.
A rigid evaluation of these various factors before prescribing the orthosis is important because pain caused by injuries, especially for those who went through an amputation, can have major impacts on the individual’s mental health. Some even experience a phantom limb, which is the sensation that a missing limb is still attached. After all, healing is not only about the physical aspects of the human body but it also involves the mind.