OP 6300L: Lower Limb Orthotics I Laboratory

1 Credit Hours
Concurrent: OP 6300
This laboratory course presents the necessary skills to evaluate, measure, design, fabricate, fit, align, and rectify custom molded, custom fit, and prefabricated orthoses to the lower limb involving the ankle and foot of human models. These orthoses include a variety of foot orthoses, ankle foot orthoses, and other designs.

Course Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Explain how orthoses function mechanically to control motion of the lower limbs.
Employ safe methods of patient assessment (i.e., tests and measures of posture, ROM, MMT, reflex testing, gait assessment, etc.).
Interpret tests and measures of patient assessment (presence or absence of deficits in function).
Formulate goals of the orthosis to enable desired function (i.e., to achieve anatomical alignment, gait correction, ease of donning/doffing, etc.).Explain the design of the orthosis to achieve the function (i.e., 3 force systems, leverage, material stiffness, shape/contour, component selection, etc.).
Employ safe laboratory and clinical practice (i.e., proper use of equipment and tools for clinical patient assessment, impression taking, positive model rectification, fabrication, fitting and adjustment (i.e., universal precautions, PPE, etc.).
Identify appropriate and inappropriate methods of impression taking (e.g., casting), positive model rectification, and fitting using knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, materials and develop a plan to correct errors.
Safely engage in the process of creating various custom-molded foam and thermoplastic lower limb orthoses from patient evaluation, casting, positive model rectification, fabrication, and fitting on a simulated patient model.