Abstract
We usually prescribe a long leg brace for the knee extensor weakness. The SKA Orthosis (New-York University, 1968) and Saltiel Brace (Israel, 1969) were invented in order to substitute a short leg brace for a long leg brace.
Our plastic K. U. Short Leg Brace for flaccid knee extensor weakness has two special features.
1) The brace's degree of plantar flexion can be changed in order to accommodate to the difference in the heel height of the shoe. For instance, it is enough to attach thin heel lift plates with Velcro to the outer heel base of the brace in case the brace needs more dorsi-flexion to prevent instability that occurs, for example, in walking without shoes.
2) There are three types of pre-tibial shell and one can select proper type of pre-tibial shell according to the instability of the knee joint.
In the Japanese way of life, there are frequent opportunities to walk without shoes. In such a case, reasonable knee stability can be obtained with the K. U. Short Leg Brace.
The Advantages of the K. U. Short Leg Brace are as follow:
1) light weight,
2) excellent cosmesis,
3) fit to any shoes,
4) it allows sitting in maximally flexed position of the knee,
5) easy wearing and easy to take off,
6) noiselessness,
7) easy to clean the brace,
8) reasonable purchase price,
9) it decreases energy consumption due to movable knee joint.
