Abstract
We have succesfully applied our zero-position functional shoulder orthosis for postoperative management of rotator cuff injuries since 1979. On the basis of the biomechanical concepts of the zero-position and the scapular plane, we recently designed an improved zero-position functional orthosis which is correctly fitted to each person on the so-called “scapular plane”, and would like to report its special features and principle.
The orthosis consists of a pelvic support, an upright bar, an arm s u pport and so on. When a plaster negative was made before an operation, we appointed each person's scapula plane and fixed an upright bar on the pelvic support. But, the orthosis did not often adapt itself to the patient when it was fitted after the operation. Recently we designed a changeable joint, which connects the upright bar to the pelvic support. So it is possible to adjust the orthosis to the scapular plane with individual variations.
The reference plane for shoulder i mmobilization of rotator cuff injuries is the scapular plan, and so it is important to maintain the elevation of the humeroscapular joint on the scapular plane with individual variations and to adjust it gradually, not to keep it at zero-position. For those reasons, our functional shoulder orthosis on the basis of biomechanical concepts of the scapular plane is useful.
