Balanced Forearm Orthosis and Activity of Daily Living

Abstract

Balanced Forearm Orthoses are a solution to assist eating movements in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We introduced the Portable Spring Balancer (PSB) (Honey International Co.) for 13 cases subsidized by the rental system for elderly care from June 2018 to October 2022. We analyzed the recipients based on their type of disabilities, utilized services, and period of use, and concluded that their family members and caregivers were not informed sufficiently how to use PSBs and that the trial use of PSBs was not going smoothly. A case was chosen to study from the introduction of the PSB to the follow-ups and clarified the importance of frequent adjustment of the PSB and the wearer’s postures. It is also effective to use other assistive devices (self-help equipment) together such as customized cutlery.