Pneumatic and standard double upright orthoses: comparison of their biomechanical function in three patients with spinal cord injuries

A detailed analysis of the biomechanical and physiological function of pneumatic orthoses comparing them to the standard double upright knee ankle orthoses was performed in three patients with different lesion levels. The results suggest that the main value of the long pneumatic orthosis is for early mobilization of the patient. In addition, the long pneumatic orthosis provides hip and trunk stabilization for marginal walkers who walk for exercise purposes. It is likely that most long term functional ambulators will choose the standard knee ankle orthosis (KAO). The study does not represent a statistical sample; therefore generalization must be limited.