Technical

(T2) Maximizing the Tuning of Ankle Foot Orthoses with the Material Science of Custom Fabrication

Speaker(s)

• 

  Gary Bedard, COFAAOPD (he/him/his)

  Managing Principal
  Rhode 401, LLC
  Woonsocket, Rhode Island

Moderator(s)

• BM

  Brad Mattear, LO, CPA, CFo (he/him/his)

  O&P Central Fabrication Program Manager
  Shriners Hospital for Children
  Tampa, Florida

The trend of tuning the stance phase shank to vertical angle of ankle foot orthoses to maximize the impact of the orthosis on a patient’s gait has been well established in the literature and in clinical practice. Recent advances of material science illustrate a means to optimize thermoplastic fabrication for a best practice approach. Material options as well as process parameters required for best practice will be reviewed including new data on the flexural modulus differential in thermoplastic sheet materials.