Correct Adjustment

Expertmail October 2019

Correct Adjustment of a NEURO SWING Orthosis for Preventing an Unnecessary Noise Development

Dear Readers,

In today's issue, we focus on the NEURO SWING system ankle joint and possible sources of error in the adjustment of the orthosis and the system joint that can lead to avoidable noise development.

With best regards from Lüneburg,

Your FIOR & GENTZ team

Orthosis Construction

During the construction of the orthosis, it is fundamentally important to follow the recommendations for the orthosis construction from the Orthosis Configurator and our guides. As a rule of thumb for the default setting, the orthosis should have a tibia inclination of 5–7°.

When checking the basic alignment, verify whether the line of gravity falls through the front half of the supportive area. In order to prevent a later noise development during the orthosis’ construction, make sure to integrate a suitable toe spring. An orthosis without a toe spring makes it difficult to initiate swing phase. This means that the forefoot does not lift off the ground until very late, which causes the system joint to snap back to its original position. A loud bumping noise can occur.

Basic Adjustment of the Spring Force

Here again, when it comes to the fist fitting of the orthosis, the recommendations for the spring force from the Orthosis Configurator and our guides need to be taken into consideration in order to reach the planned treatment goal. This improves the patient’s gait in the best possible way, supports the patient optimally and keeps the noise development to a minimum.

Recording the Orthosis Function

Use the Protocol for Checking the Orthosis Functionto document the results of the first fitting in the basic adjustment. The protocol also serves as a basis for communication with our Technical Support in case further measures need to be taken.

Deviant Adjustments of the Spring Force

Check the spring force and adjust it if necessary. Pay attention to the following two potential sources of error for avoidable noise development: a dorsal spring unit that is too weak and a ventral spring unit that is too weak.

• If the dorsal spring unit is too weak for the patient, the foot drops in an uncontrolled manner in loading response. This leads to a loud noise when the foot hits the ground.

• If the ventral spring unit is too weak for the patient, the heel does not lift off the ground in terminal stance. When the forefoot lifts off the ground in initial swing, the system joint snaps back to its original position and a loud bumping noise can occur under certain circumstances.

Have you or your patient noticed an increased noise development? For further questions, please contact +47 97 16 07 67 - post@ortopartner.no.