Responses to tuning AFO's

Responses to tuning AFO's

Bob Genaze C.P.O.

10/23/2008

Below is the original question followed by the replies.

I heard about a presentation at the AAOP meeting in San Francisco about a year ago. One of the panel discussions??? had a CO from Strathclyde, a mister Roy Bowers. He talked about studies at Strathclyde involving tuning solid ankle afo's to normalize gait in patients with CVA,CP, and Spina Bifida. I have found limited information- mostly published by Elaine Owens, PT who has worked with Bowers. Does anyone have acess to more information, or have you used these ideas in your practice?

Thak you,





here's what i like to do, fabricate a cp leaf spring with a pp reinforcement strut.? this basically turns the leaf spring into a solid afo with a dynamic response.? i like to use these on ms patients as solid ankles can be hot and sometimes exacerbate their symptoms.? its also a lot easier to fit on the patients (malleoli clearance) and fits better in the shoe.? brace prevents plantar flexion and eliminates fishmouthin like that of solid ankles.? if you like i can email you a picture of the design.

?

scott kennedy co

9134981540











Hi Bob,

?

Roy Bowers, is a CO who works and teaches at Strathclyde.? He has worked with Barry Meadows, a Biomechanist and Elaine Owen, PT at Strathclyde on the concept of Tuning Solid Ankle AFOs combined with Footwear modifications to achieve optimal ankle, knee hip alignment in gait.? Most of the presentations done have occurred outside the US, in Europe and ISPO meetings.? The concept has been under study and in use for about 10 years. ?Elaine Owen got her Masters studying the idea with help from Barry Meadows.

I am very interested in the concept, and with the help of Stefania Fatone, Phd at NU, found some of their work.? I have some of the published work posted on my web site (nothing elaborate) at <URL Redacted>? half way down the page.? It is VERY interesting and I think can change the way?we think about AFOs.? I know Elaine Owen is scheduled for an 3 day course at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in early December - I have seen the notices in the Edge and Almanac.? I plan to attend and am encouraging the PTs I work with to come along so the team can work together with a united understanding. Hope this helps.

?





Good morning Bob.? I checked the 07 meeting and only see Row giving two
presentations Establishing Evidence Based Practice in O&P, Focusing on
the Orthotic Management of Stroke (IC1-page 13) and Adult & Adolescent
Cerebral Palsy (SD4-page 14).? This second presentation comes close as
I would think spina bifida would have been a part of the discussion. Roy
presented with Tom DiBello, CO, FAAOP and Bryan Malas, CO.? I checked to
see if they submitted an abstract for the Journal of Proceedings but
unfortunately they did not.

Feel free to go to our website www.oandp.org, click on Annual Meeting
tab, Past & Present and you can view the 2007 program in it's entirety.
I've indicated the page numbers above that you will find his
presentations on.
I have an email for Roy Bowers ( <Email Address Redacted> ) if you'd like
to contact him directly.?

Feel free to contact me at any time if I can be of more assistance.?

Good morning Bob.? I checked the 07 meeting and only see Row giving two
presentations Establishing Evidence Based Practice in O&P, Focusing on
the Orthotic Management of Stroke (IC1-page 13) and Adult & Adolescent
Cerebral Palsy (SD4-page 14).? This second presentation comes close as
I would think spina bifida would have been a part of the discussion. Roy
presented with Tom DiBello, CO, FAAOP and Bryan Malas, CO.? I checked to
see if they submitted an abstract for the Journal of Proceedings but
unfortunately they did not.

Feel free to go to our website www.oandp.org, click on Annual Meeting
tab, Past & Present and you can view the 2007 program in it's entirety.
I've indicated the page numbers above that you will find his
presentations on.
I have an email for Roy Bowers ( <Email Address Redacted> ) if you'd like
to contact him directly.?

Feel free to contact me at any time if I can be of more assistance.?

Good morning Bob.? I checked the 07 meeting and only see Row giving two
presentations Establishing Evidence Based Practice in O&P, Focusing on
the Orthotic Management of Stroke (IC1-page 13) and Adult & Adolescent
Cerebral Palsy (SD4-page 14).? This second presentation comes close as
I would think spina bifida would have been a part of the discussion. Roy
presented with Tom DiBello, CO, FAAOP and Bryan Malas, CO.? I checked to
see if they submitted an abstract for the Journal of Proceedings but
unfortunately they did not.

Feel free to go to our website www.oandp.org, click on Annual Meeting
tab, Past & Present and you can view the 2007 program in it's entirety.
I've indicated the page numbers above that you will find his
presentations on.
I have an email for Roy Bowers ( <Email Address Redacted> ) if you'd like
to contact him directly.?

Feel free to contact me at any time if I can be of more assistance.?

Hi Bob
A colleague of mine spotted your post on the OANDP Listserver and forwarded to
me
I'd be happy to try to answer any questions you have about our experience of
tuning AFOs
best regards
Roy


Roy Bowers
Senior Lecturer
National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow
G4 0LS
Scotland

Phone: +44 (0)141 548 4699
Fax: +44 (0)141 552 1283


<Email Address Redacted>

www.strath.ac.uk/prosthetics






Hi Bob,

?

I think you should contact Tom Dibello, as I have heard him lecture a few times on this topic.?


Michelle Hall, CPO, FAAOP






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