[The experience in employing reciprocal gait orthoses]

The paper presents the experience of the authors in employing reciprocal gait orthoses in a group of 23 patients age 3-25 years (mean age 7.8 years). The orthoses were indicated in patients with flaccid paresis (17 children with myelodysplasia and 3 patients with traumatic paraplegia) and with arthrogryposis (3 patients). The follow-up period was 6 months to 5 years (mean 2.4 years). The authors discuss the principles of construction and operation of reciprocal gait orthoses and types of patients in whom they are recommended. The principles of learning walking and using the orthosis are also presented.