Hinge noise
Patricia Hazard CO
Description
Collection
Title:
Hinge noise
Creator:
Patricia Hazard CO
Date:
7/2/2008
Text:
Original posting:
I fitted a post CVA patient in a Townsend Polio KO to control
hyperextension. It works great to improve his gait. He had a lot of
external torsion of lower leg in full weight bearing as well. The patient
is happy with the function as well but is very unhappy with hinge noise. I
sent it back to Townsend to tighten up the hinge but it is still very
audible. I am using the thermoplastic extension stops.
Is there another hinge system that would be quieter or have some type of
bumper system to dampen the sound? He needs a heavy duty free motion
system.
Replies:
Just had the same thing happen to me with a polio patient. I tried using a Becker MCL stopper plug and bored out a hole in the white extension stops, then trimmed down the MCL plug so that it was the same width as the ext. stop. This helped with the noise due to the softer durometer of the mcl plug. Townsend also has a cover for the hinges that helped as well. [I will probably try this and report on the results]
Try an old oil for hinged orthosis called braceease. It works well and is
not messy. Only a drop or two is all it takes. Good luck. [I could not find a source for this product]
Try a Dacron Check strap similar to that used on old joints and corset transtibial prostheses. Adjust the length using a four bar buckle to stop the extension just short of the joints' mechanical stops. It is very quiet and has the added benefit of acting as a popliteal sling and spreading the pressure over a much broader area of the posterior knee. I prefer 1/2 standard weight Dacron laced through two sets of three holes proximally and distally (if you have posterior cuffs to work with). If the cuffs are anterior, loops and chafes on the medial and lateral proximal and distal will allow an X pattern that should work but you may need to use 1 Dacron. Hope this helps. [I considered this but the hinge has some looseness that contributes to the noise. That is why I sent it back to Townsend but they did not tighten it up enough.I was afraid the dacron would wear out very fast as well. This is a very active man whose main means of transportation is walking.]]
Try teflon tape on the stops. [Tried this but the tape wears down too fast.]
I fitted a post CVA patient in a Townsend Polio KO to control
hyperextension. It works great to improve his gait. He had a lot of
external torsion of lower leg in full weight bearing as well. The patient
is happy with the function as well but is very unhappy with hinge noise. I
sent it back to Townsend to tighten up the hinge but it is still very
audible. I am using the thermoplastic extension stops.
Is there another hinge system that would be quieter or have some type of
bumper system to dampen the sound? He needs a heavy duty free motion
system.
Replies:
Just had the same thing happen to me with a polio patient. I tried using a Becker MCL stopper plug and bored out a hole in the white extension stops, then trimmed down the MCL plug so that it was the same width as the ext. stop. This helped with the noise due to the softer durometer of the mcl plug. Townsend also has a cover for the hinges that helped as well. [I will probably try this and report on the results]
Try an old oil for hinged orthosis called braceease. It works well and is
not messy. Only a drop or two is all it takes. Good luck. [I could not find a source for this product]
Try a Dacron Check strap similar to that used on old joints and corset transtibial prostheses. Adjust the length using a four bar buckle to stop the extension just short of the joints' mechanical stops. It is very quiet and has the added benefit of acting as a popliteal sling and spreading the pressure over a much broader area of the posterior knee. I prefer 1/2 standard weight Dacron laced through two sets of three holes proximally and distally (if you have posterior cuffs to work with). If the cuffs are anterior, loops and chafes on the medial and lateral proximal and distal will allow an X pattern that should work but you may need to use 1 Dacron. Hope this helps. [I considered this but the hinge has some looseness that contributes to the noise. That is why I sent it back to Townsend but they did not tighten it up enough.I was afraid the dacron would wear out very fast as well. This is a very active man whose main means of transportation is walking.]]
Try teflon tape on the stops. [Tried this but the tape wears down too fast.]
Citation
Patricia Hazard CO, “Hinge noise,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 8, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/229587.
