Evidence-Informed Practices for Individualized Prescription of Ankle-Foot Orthoses
Evidence-Informed Practices for Individualized Prescription of Ankle-Foot Orthoses
2 hours 30 minutes
The instructors
Overview:
Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are routinely prescribed for individuals with mobility limitations to address a range of impairments and support function and participation in daily activities.
Designing the optimal AFO-footwear combination for each unique client is a multifaceted challenge. There are numerous options to consider, but limited evidence-based guidance to support decision-making. Physiotherapists may not feel confident contributing to the process due to traditional role expectations or lack of knowledge, yet orthotic intervention can be integral to a client’s mobility goals and intervention plan.
Building on learners’ foundational knowledge of gait and movement, this webinar will illustrate a framework for applying key evidence-informed steps for AFO design, evaluation, and optimization of AFO-footwear combination alignment to address specific client goals. Implementing these practices may help clinicians maximize the effects of this powerful-- but sometimes controversial-- intervention modality.
One size does not fit all.
Join Dr. Kyra Kane for this live webinar which will introduce evidence-informed practices for individualized prescription of ankle-foot orthoses.
Learning Objectives:
- Apply knowledge of an AFO's direct and indirect mechanical effects to understand and improve individualized prescription decisions
- List common types of AFOs and indications for hinged and solid AFOs
- Illustrate how clinical assessment can guide decisions about AFO type (e.g., solid vs hinged AFO) and features (e.g., the ankle angle in the AFO)
- Identify practical steps for evaluating and optimizing the AFO-footwear combination to address a client’s biomechanical goals
The instructors
BScPT, MSc, PhD
Dr. Kyra Kane has been a registered physical therapist since 1997, with clinical experience in pediatrics and orthopaedics. She is a full-time clinician, adjunct professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and Research Advisor for the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Kyra has an MSc in Kinesiology and Health Studies, a PhD in Health Sciences, and extensive postgraduate training and clinical experience in biomechanical gait analysis and orthotic intervention.
Kyra is passionate about supporting the clinical application of evidence and best practices. She has presented her research nationally and internationally through journals, conferences, lectures, and webinars. Her research interests include examining evidence-based use of individualized ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) for children, understanding the experiences of children and clinicians with AFO prescription, and improving pediatric gait measurement and rehabilitation outcomes.