When it comes to managing knee conditions and injuries either instead of surgery or as part of recovery after surgery, physicians often rely on knee orthoses (knee braces) to provide their patients with support, stability, and pain relief. However, with various options available in the market, selecting the fitting knee orthosis can be challenging.
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In this Knee Orthosis Buying Guide, we will provide physicians with 7 valuable tips to help them choose the most suitable knee orthosis for their patient's needs. We'll also note a few KO options we recommend for your patients.
Consider the patient's activity level and lifestyle to determine the functional requirements of the knee orthosis. Does the patient need a brace for daily activities, sports, or both? Evaluate the specific movements and stresses in their activities to identify the necessary features such as flexibility, stability, and impact absorption.
Different types of knee orthoses are available, each designed for specific purposes. Common types include prophylactic (preventive), functional, rehabilitative, unloading, and patellofemoral braces. Speak to an orthotist to familiarize yourself with the features and indications of each type to choose the one that aligns with the patient's diagnosis, treatment goals, and functional requirements.
We offer a variety of Knee Orthoses to help patients manage their lower extremity ailments. Each device has the highest quality materials and is designed to produce the most positive patient outcomes. Here are a few of our KO options.
The V-VAS™ Orthosis is a one-of-a-kind offloading/realigning brace that helps to achieve optimal varum or valgum stress without bulky or complex adjustments. Its unique polycentric adjustable hinge design creates an ideal bending moment that results in the precise offloading/realigning experience.
It is the first long-axis offloading, closed dynamic frame custom knee orthosis that doesn't need to be removed to adjust offloading, and the mechanical axis is always non-binding and auto-aligning.
The KMO™ (Knee Management Orthosis) features a unique, single posterior joint that is cost-effective, patient-friendly, and a more accurate alternative for static progressive knee positioning.
Unlike the limited standard choice knee immobilizer, the KMO™ can more effectively position the normal anatomical alignment of the patient's knee joint, which can easily be set in position without the need to heat or contour the upright to accommodate or progressively improve knee contracture issues, specific post-op ROM (Range of Motion) positioning needs or minor fracture stabilization.
The Pentagon® Orthosis is a unique posterior fitting, single-jointed upright knee orthosis that provides another patient-friendly alternative to the traditional bulky double upright hinged knee orthoses configurations. This system design also allows for a simplified fitting of the knee orthosis that helps address many different rehabilitative needs for sagittal plane stabilization.
The Pentagon® Orthosis is the only system that allows the calf and thigh segments to dynamically shorten and lengthen with the patient's extremity during flexion and extension of the knee to accurately track the normal anatomical knee center alignment for maximum stability which also helps to reduce unwanted friction to the skin to increase patient comfort and compliance.
Choosing the suitable knee orthosis for your patients requires a thoughtful and informed approach. Physicians can make well-informed decisions by understanding the patient's diagnosis, assessing the severity of the condition, considering treatment goals, evaluating functional requirements, and seeking expert opinions.
Remember to prioritize comfort, adjustability, and customization options while staying within the patient's budget. With these tips, physicians can select the most appropriate knee orthosis, providing their patients with the support, stability, and relief they need for optimal recovery and improved quality of life.
When it comes to maintaining proper knee-ankle-foot alignment, controlling motion, and minimizing pain associated with various lower extremity injuries or conditions, there are a variety of effective treatment options, including surgery.
However, other effective treatment options are available for your patients who are candidates for less invasive means of treatment.
One such option we recommend to physicians is the Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (KAFO), which is used to treat various lower extremity ailments. When selecting the right KAFO for your patients, there are many things to consider, including when to prescribe a KAFO, the main types, wear requirements, patient skin care and KAFO device care. This blog will discuss some of these considerations and serve as a KAFO buyer’s guide resource.
A knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is a leg brace customized to an individual's specific needs. It spans the length from above the knee to the ankle and foot to support the muscles, stabilize the joints and assist safe movement.
The KAFO delivers versatility that’s particularly needed in the early stages of neurological rehabilitation patient management. They can also be beneficial in recovery from all sorts of lower extremity issues.
KAFOs help compensate for muscle weakness, paralysis, or skeletal problems that cause lower limb instability. The KAFO helps to make standing and walking easier by:
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It ensures superior mobility and a comfortable fit, providing better limb control. Produced from thermoplastics or carbon fiber composites, it is lightweight and fits closely. Each component, including the knee joint, knee locking mechanism, knee pads and bands, and whether or not there is a frontal plane control, is determined by an individual's unique condition.
A KAFO is used as a walking aid for those with difficulty for various reasons. The most common are polio, partial spinal cord lesions, nerve injuries, and stroke.
The most common causes of muscle weakness that require KAFO usage are:
There are many factors to consider when prescribing and fitting the device on an individual. These include the type of deformity, the biomechanical deficit to be addressed, an individual's weight and activity level, and lifestyle issues.
Individuals experiencing significant fixed deformity may benefit from a weight-relieving brim in the orthosis, in which the individual's weight can be migrated from the affected extremity.
KAFOs are complex devices, so their designs vary according to the patient's needs. There are two main types:
When instructing your patients about KAFO wear time, remember that they should gradually increase the wear time. This allows their skin to adjust to the supportive pressures that the KAFO applies.
Make sure your patients understand that If their KAFO becomes uncomfortable, they should discontinue use and consult you.
Some instructions for your patients regarding footwear, When selecting shoes to wear with their KAFO, they should look for the following features:
They should select comfortable, supportive shoes to maximize the benefits of the KAFO.
Once individuals begin wearing their KAFO, they should wear socks and shoes, which will serve as a barrier between the brace and skin to reduce any friction and improve comfort when perspiration occurs. It's recommended to wear a basic athletic shoe with laces or Velcro closures. This allows for adjustments to be made more easily when needed.
Each time it is removed, the wearer of the brace should check their skin for any signs of marking or redness. If red marks persist for longer than 30 minutes or the skin breaks down or blisters, the individual should discontinue the use of the brace and contact their doctor.
In the past, the best option to treat lower extremities with an orthosis would be to wear a KAFO with a locked knee joint. While this provided the necessary stability and support of the knee to prevent involuntary flexion, it also caused muscle atrophy, increased energy expenditure in gait, and a non-cosmetic walk.
Today's KAFO technology has been re-engineered with an enhanced design that can automatically lock and unlock at the appropriate times in the gait cycle. This allows for a more fluid walking style and promotes muscle strengthening.
Our Prefabricated KAFO and AFO modular orthotic systems are in stock and cost-effective compared to custom-made or hybrid-type designs.
They offer the versatility needed, particularly in the early stages of neuro-rehab patient management. Studies have proven the value of early mobilization and proper anatomical positioning.
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This device is a unique KAFO custom-fabricated for those who present or require treatment of various knee arthropathies and/or bowing of the lower extremity. The dynamic V-Vas™ joint system allows for sequential deformity correction and creates a precise offloading effect.
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