[Principles of orthotic treatment in neuromuscular diseases]

Orthotic treatment has always been one of the main principles in palsy treatment. The effectiveness is always dependent on an exact indication. An orthosis may only support remaining functions but can never act as a substitute. The limitations of any orthotic treatment are the pressure tolerance of the skin and the energy expenditure exerted during the orthotic use. A combination of surgery and orthotics (surgical-orthotic integration; Rose 1986) may be required to give the optimum result. The orthosis must not be seen as a substitute for appropriate surgery. In order to achieve the best result a team approach is recommended in every instance.