When would you use a V-VAS orthosis? Osteoarthritis of the knee produces pain and reduced quality of life and orthotic bracing is commonly used as a conservative management approach. Depending on severity and choice of brace it can be helpful. The accepted wisdom is that bracing is less effective with severe osteoarthritis - but what do you use when surgery is not possible, refused or too risky.

When we brought the PRAFO ankle foot orthosis to the UK in the 1990’s, heel pressure sores and diabetic foot ulcers were a huge problem for the NHS. Actually they are still a massive problem for the NHS. A major key to prevention is to relieve or ideally eliminate pressure and shear effects. The biomechanics of tissue are complex and this means that it is easier to aim to eliminate pressure and shear rather than use a method which assumes that a particular level of pressure is “safe”. The reason the PRAFO range is so effective for prevention and treatment of heel ulcers is that it cradles and positions the foot and ankle so that there is no possibility of pressure or shear force at the heel.

Exergaming with Bike Labyrinth is an intervention in which physical exercise is combined with cognitive stimulation in a single task. A recent study deployed Bike Labyrinth’s interactive cycle route technology with older adults with dementia. The study found that exergame training improved psychomotor speed, compared to an active control group. This finding may be clinically relevant as psychomotor speed is an important predictor for functional decline.

Indego can’t produce miracles - but the combination of great technology and therapy can come close. We have featured Alice and her story of recovery from a hypoxic brain injury. As a young woman she was looking at a situation in which she would be in bed for 23 hours a day and hoisted to a wheelchair for the rest of each day. Indego along with the efforts of the More Rehab team have got Alice back on her feet and moving toward independence.

In this article we look at how various studies have showcased the Indego’s performance. The lndego Personal is a lower extremity exoskeleton providing power assisted trunk stability in combination with dynamic flexion/extension of the knees and hips for standing, walking and returning to sit. This powered orthosis is beneficial for a broad range of neurological conditions including stroke, MS and spinal cord injury

Each Indego Personal user will take extensive training. Even though a client has passed their “Medical Clearance” and is intent on purchasing an Indego, they won’t be able to take it home until they (and potentially a support person) have received essential training. This maximises independence and safety. Learn about the training programme in this short article.