How orthotics could support a young person to achieve their goals

Orthotics come in all shapes and sizes, can be used on various parts of the body, and can provide fantastic support for someone living with a physical disability to achieve their goals.

Sometimes bodies need extra support or protection to assist muscles and bone structures to line up so movement can improve – an orthotic can be great for this. A young person may even have foot orthotics already, as many people do!

One of the best ways to determine if someone needs orthotics is to consider their goals. Are they looking to stretch a particular muscle at night, keep up with friends at school, or perhaps play a particular sport? Orthotics can help with positioning, stretching, walking, running, sleeping, and protection.

It may also be helpful to discuss these goals with a physiotherapist, who can work with the young person to create a plan to achieve them and provide further support when starting to use orthotics.

The best way to find orthotics that are right for a young person is to have an assessment with an orthotist. Novita has a team of highly qualified orthotists who use world-class technology to assess and make orthotics. Our orthotists love to work with children, their families, and physiotherapists to help them get the most from their orthotics.

Reasons a young person might need orthotics:

1. BALANCE

Does the young person often lose balance?

There are lots of reasons for this, but one of the most common is that sometimes feet and legs are not aligned correctly, which can lead to poor alignment of the knees, pelvis, and spine. This is not always visible, so it’s important to speak with a physiotherapist who can assess standing, sitting, and walking posture and provide advice on what area of the body may need support.

Ankle Foot Orthotics, Foot Orthotics, Ankle Braces, Orthopaedic Boots, and other stabilising braces can be used to support the foot and ankle to improve balance. It’s also important that the body is allowed to move as designed, so an orthotist and/or physiotherapist may suggest working on muscle strength and movement before trying an orthotic.

2. ALIGNMENT

Does someone’s walking look different from other people’s?

Many physical disabilities and acute injuries affect muscle and bone structures in ways that mean someone has to compensate when walking, sitting, and standing by moving a little differently. Orthotics help to change the alignment of the body to make walking and standing more symmetrical and in line. Orthotics can be used all day to help with walking, for part of the day, or even just for specific activities such as sport.

Having a clear goal of what the young person would like to achieve will help the orthotist prescribe suitable orthotics. Sometimes orthotics are also recommended to ensure ongoing movement as they get older and to prevent other conditions such as osteoarthritis.

3. FATIGUE AND PAIN

Does someone get tired quickly from walking or feel pain in their legs at night?

If a child finds that they are easily tired or fatigued, or experiences pain, orthotics can provide fantastic support to keep them going for longer. Maybe their goal is to keep up with peers during activities, be able to run faster, or reduce pain when participating in physical exercise.

Ankle Foot Orthoses made with different materials, including 3D print and carbon fibre, can be very beneficial for reducing fatigue due to their lightweight and/or energy-storing properties. Night-time resting AFOs are helpful for providing calf stretches when excessive muscle tone is present.

Ankle Foot Orthoses, Knee-Ankle- Foot Orthoses, Rocker Shoes, and other walking braces can improve efficiency in walking. For example, people post-stroke who experience foot drop may be at risk of tripping over, as walking can be exhausting and their feet may not be able to clear the ground – instead, their toes scrape or catch as they walk. Ankle Foot Orthoses are designed to lift the foot at the appropriate time and facilitate a heel-to- toe and safe gait pattern.

4. PLUS

Other reasons someone may benefit from orthotics include:

• Post-surgery rehabilitation
• Sports injury management
• Sitting position/wheelchair positioning
• Stretching
• Protection of joints
• Prevention of muscle tightness andcontracture
• Osteoarthritis
• Swelling controlNovitaTech’s team of highly trained orthotists can assess a young person’s needs and prescribe, make, and fit the right type of orthotic to support them in reaching their goals.

NovitaTech’s team of highly trained orthotists can assess a young person’s needs and prescribe, make, and fit the right type of orthotic to support them in reaching their goals. NovitaTech uses the latest 3D scanning technology and Computer-Aided Design Software (CAD) to make orthotics, ensuring a precise fit and fast turnaround time.

---

If you would like more information or to book a consultation, call the friendly team at NovitaTech on 1300 668 482 or contact [email protected]