Akshay Kumar

By Akshay Kumar and Vinita

Cerebral palsy is the developmental and postural disorder that combines a group of conditions/disease (neuromuscular), occurs in the developing fetal or infant brain, affects movement and intelligence that are ascribed to non-progressive disturbances. Orthotics is the branch of modern health science and rehabilitation that deals with assessment, prescription, fabrication, fitment, and purposeful gait training to the individual who needs orthosis for optimal independence. Orthoses are external devices that applied to increase function, prevent contracture and deformity, maintain the limbs in a functional position, stabilize the segments of the body, support the weak muscle and its functions, increase motor control, reduce spasticity, protect the limbs, and body segments in the postoperative condition.

Part of the book: Prosthetics and Orthotics

By Akshay Kumar and Vinita Jadav

Damage to a part of the spinal cord or nerves at the ends of the spinal canal causes spinal cord injuries which affect the individual to perform their normal functioning. The spinal cord injury results in complete or incomplete alteration in strength, sensation, and body function below the level of injury. It impacts the postural balance and confines the affected individual with limitations. The independent or optimal activity of living (ADL) management of spinal cord injury patients is challenging. Orthoses play an important role in the multidisciplinary approach to managing spinal injury patients and successful rehabilitation. Different orthoses are applied to spinal cord injury patients to achieve/regain movement, balance, pain relief, etc. The objective of this chapter is to brief about the orthotic rehabilitation management of spinal cord injury patients and its advancement prospects in future.

Part of the book: Spinal Cord Injury