Abstract
A majority of patients with muscular dystrophy (MD) develop a gradual loss of functional muscle and a progressive contracture. Orthotic interventions for the limb and the spine may be able to improve their quality of life if they are applied in the appropriate region and with the proper timing. The authors use orthotic management and devices for patients with MD; medical devices discussed in this paper are knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) for assisted ambulation, ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) for preventing the progression of equinovarus deformities in wheelchairs, thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthoses before a formation of scoliosis and later in the clinical course, the seating systems. Any kind of orthotic management requires the provision of detailed information to the patients and their parents. Both risk and limitations of orthotic treatment have to be mentioned. Careful consideration of the environment and the mental condition of the patient and the caregiver, as well as the motor function, is important in the orthotic treatment of patients with MD.
