Orthotic Treatment of Parkinson's
Harry Layton CPO/L
Description
Collection
Title:
Orthotic Treatment of Parkinson's
Creator:
Harry Layton CPO/L
Date:
5/22/2013
Text:
Dear List,
I am interested in feedback from orthotists with experience in treating patients with Parkinson's disease. A daughter has brought in her mother for treatment of her spastic wrist/hand/finger contractures. The daughter is now curious about lower limb orthoses to enable her mother to stand/walk? The patient exhibits little/no cognitive and communicative function. She is tolerating the hand splints well and her hands/fingers appear somewhat more flexible than when I started. I feel doubtful that any real gain can be found for this woman. She has hip and knee flexion contractures combined with ankle plantarflexion contractures. The hips and knees are at 20-25% and the ankles are 12-15% plantar flexed. I have explained to the daughter that these contractures seriously compromise any real improvement, but, my treatment of those with Parkinson's has been limited to patients with much better cognitive and physical attributes.
The fact that nothing had been done prior to my involvement a couple of months ago has certainly played a significant role in her overall level of care, to this point. I am curious what my colleagues routinely see and do in these situations. I will be more that happy to post responses as long as I can figure out how to do it. I will protect the privacy of all.
Harry Layton, CPO, LPO
Lawton Brace & Limb Company
2724 W. Gore Blvd.
Lawton, Oklahoma, 73505
I am interested in feedback from orthotists with experience in treating patients with Parkinson's disease. A daughter has brought in her mother for treatment of her spastic wrist/hand/finger contractures. The daughter is now curious about lower limb orthoses to enable her mother to stand/walk? The patient exhibits little/no cognitive and communicative function. She is tolerating the hand splints well and her hands/fingers appear somewhat more flexible than when I started. I feel doubtful that any real gain can be found for this woman. She has hip and knee flexion contractures combined with ankle plantarflexion contractures. The hips and knees are at 20-25% and the ankles are 12-15% plantar flexed. I have explained to the daughter that these contractures seriously compromise any real improvement, but, my treatment of those with Parkinson's has been limited to patients with much better cognitive and physical attributes.
The fact that nothing had been done prior to my involvement a couple of months ago has certainly played a significant role in her overall level of care, to this point. I am curious what my colleagues routinely see and do in these situations. I will be more that happy to post responses as long as I can figure out how to do it. I will protect the privacy of all.
Harry Layton, CPO, LPO
Lawton Brace & Limb Company
2724 W. Gore Blvd.
Lawton, Oklahoma, 73505
Citation
Harry Layton CPO/L, “Orthotic Treatment of Parkinson's,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/235153.
