Braces Ortho

Lower Limb Braces

Lower limb braces have a number of tasks that they are designed to carry out; one of the most important tasks is to assist with the support of body weight. This is particularly important after an injury so during the healing process, lower limb braces are used to correct deformities. Physicians will recommend the use of lower limb braces in childhood and adolescence if a condition is identified wherein their usage can help.

Patients who could be at risk of deformity but have yet to show deformity conditions will be advised to use lower limb braces to prevent the deformity from occurring. In addition, these braces are definitely recommended for someone who may be suffering from involuntary movement and spasms.

Materials used in lower limb braces

The most common materials that are used for lower limb braces are:

The lower limb braces are designed to be as light as possible, but this does not mean that their strength or durability should be compromised. In addition, they need to be safe to wear. Any attachments or joints should always be made of steel to ensure that they work correctly.

What are the components of lower limb braces?

Lower limb braces will contain an attachment to a shoe plate or a shoe. There will be 1 or 2 lateral uprights and full or semi circular cuffs for the thigh or the calf. The stirrup is an attachment that is recommended for children and older people. The caliper is fixed to a tube that is cut into the heel of the wearer’s shoe. Whilst it does not provide a perfect motion, it has the advantage that the wearer can use it with different shoes that they choose to wear. The footplate is often the preferred choice of women and girls; the advantage of this choice is that it can be used as an attachment to any type of shoes the wearer decides to wear.

Care and maintenance

Care and maintenance of the lower limb braces is important. Anyone who has to wear one will be strongly advised to make sure that they are fully familiar with the key aspects of the maintenance that they will need to carry out. The joints should be lubricated on a weekly basis using normal lubricating oil, such as those used around the home. All the locks should be opened and using a fine wire or even a hairpin, any dirt or lint should be removed. Any leather parts need to be kept in a good condition too so any tears should be repaired immediately.

Whilst it will be difficult to avoid perspiration stains, it is possible to wash the leather parts with slightly warm water. The addition of a reasonable quality saddle soap will also help the leather to stay in the mint condition. The heels and the soles of shoes will need to be cared for carefully to avoid the chance of damage to the lower limb braces.

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