Given current demographic developments, the number of elderly and will increase rapidly in the coming years.  Falls are amongst the most frequent reasons for medical intervention in the elderly and are a major threat to their health and independence and medical costs are high and rising. Thirty-two percent of community dwelling persons 75 years and […]

Thousands of children across the globe struggle with decreased physical functionalities and social acceptance as a result of amputations. Estimates range from 0.19 – 4.7 per 1000 children1,2, with too few health care workers to care for them all. The underlying cause for the lower education of local prosthetists and quality of prostheses was found to […]

Orthopaedic footwear solutions are prescribed for patients with various conditions, such as diabetes, foot ulcers (to prevent their occurrence or recurrence), rheumatic diseases or degenerative foot disorders, to relieve pain and provide support to anatomical foot malformations and muscular disorders, and to provide stability. The effectiveness of orthopaedic footwear solutions is related to their wearing […]

Around 700 transfemoral amputations take place in the Netherlands on a yearly basis [Geertzen, 2008]. Although not every Patient with a Transfemoral Amputation (PTFA) will regain walking ability, these numbers indicate the need for prescribing prostheses [Rietman, 2007]. Recently, more and more emphasis is being placed on justifying the indication when prescribing prostheses. However, an […]

The segment of the population over age 65 will increase to 25% from the current 12%. This reorganization of population structure suggests that there will be many old adults who will live for a long time. Many old adults lose their independence due to the evolution of mobility disability, i.e., inability to change position inside […]

Ageing is linked to a decrease in fitness and mobility and increases the risk of a Stroke. In Europe, it is estimated that there are 1.13 million people suffering from a Stroke. In the Netherlands this value is approximately 215.000. It is expected that this population has increased in size with 43.8% by the year […]

Wearing orthopaedic shoes helps to minimize the effects of arterial disease/diabetes. Diabetes first presents in the feet of clients and proper orthopaedic shoes can delay the negative effects of the condition, but it is important that clients make optimum use of these shoes. An ageing population and an increasing incidence of ‘the diseases of affluence’ mean that […]

The current method used to measure a stump to fit a prosthesis involves making a plaster cast. An impression of the stump is made in plaster, which is then used to model a socket for fitting the prosthesis to the patient’s limb. This procedure has several disadvantages. It can be distressing for the client. It […]

Children with a motor disability often come up against physical barriers. Many of them cannot take part in regular games and sports, and risk becoming less physically fit than their non-disabled peers. This in turn increases their health risks in later life. Exergames (exercise and gaming) encourage this group to be more active, take more […]

For many people with ABI, the transition from a rehabilitation clinic to home can feel like a ‘black hole’. They need a central figure, such as a coach for multiple problems, who will help them to get on with their life once they get home. Rehab-4-Life is fulfilling this need by offering combined home and […]

The introduction of myo-electrically controlled  hand prostheses with multiple grips has accelerated the development of lower arm prostheses in the last few years. The handling options of users are greatly extended by these, because of the greater number of movement patterns that can be executed. This technical innovation however, only adds value for the user if he […]

To prevent drop foot, an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is often prescribed. This is a device that is placed around the ankle and is often made of polypropylene. Human gait is supported by providing functionality to the ankle that normally is done by the dorsiflexor muscles. The dorsiflexor muscles are unable to lift the foot, so […]

Older people are more likely to fall. Some of them fall because they are wearing by badly fitting shoes or have problems with their feet. Badly fitting shoes can be the cause or the result of foot disorders. In practice, a lot of medical specialists and orthopaedic shoe technicians think that the shape of people’s […]

Elderly people ride bicycles more frequently and keep up cycling longer than before – a positive development, as cycling benefits our health and quality of life and plays a crucial role in staying mobile. However, older cyclists are at a higher risk of falling and injuring themselves in the process (fig. 1). Approximately three-quarters of […]