Short Leg Brace for Knee Extensors Weakness (K. U. Short Leg Brace)

Abstract

We usually prescribed a long leg brace for the knee extensors weakness as seen in poliomyelitis.
The SKA orthosis (New York University) and Saltiel brace (Israel) were invented in order to substitute a short leg brace for a long leg brace. We made a plastic short leg brace (K. U. Short Leg Brace) which has fixed ankle joint, the STP shaped pre-tibial shell, and thin heel lift plates. The proper heel lift plates may be attached to the outer heel base in case the brace needs more dorsi-flexion as walk without shoes.
In the Japanese way of life, there are frequent opportunities to walk without shoes. In such case, you can get reasonable knee tability with this Short Leg Brace because of the brace can accomodate to the heel height variations.
The features of K. U. Short Leg Brace are as follow:
1. light weight
2. excellent cosmesis
3. fit any shoes
4. can sit in knee maximal flexed position
5. easy donning and easy to take off
6. easy to clean the brace
7. noiseless
8. cheap
9. decrease energy consumption due to movable knee joint