PROSTHETIC ASSISTANT UPDATED EXAM SCRIPT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔Purpose of hinges/articulating AFO - ✔✔allows motion in sagittal plane and controls
other motions
✔✔Purpose of free motion AFO - ✔✔little or no resistance to plantarflexion or
dorsiflexion, helps maintain alignment and medial/lateral stability
✔✔Purpose of dorsiflexion assist AFO - ✔✔- weak dorsiflexion
- limited resistance to plantarflexion
- assist toe clearance
- help control plantarflexion
[example: posterior leaf spring}
✔✔Purpose of plantarflexion stop AFO - ✔✔- blocks plantarflexion motion
- allows free dorsiflexion
- for weak dorsiflexion or tight plantarflexion
✔✔Purpose of dorsiflexion stop AFO - ✔✔- blocks dorsiflexion motion
- allows free plantarflexion
- weak plantarflexors
✔✔Purpose of static or solid AFO - ✔✔- maximum stability and control of ankle
- ankle position in preferred alignment
- assist with swing clearance and prepositioning
✔✔Purpose of ground reaction AFO - ✔✔- controls forward progression of tibia
- weak plantarflexors
✔✔Purpose of patellar tendon bearing AFO - ✔✔- unloads distal limb
- weak plantarflexors
✔✔Purpose of Charcot restraint orthotics walker boot - ✔✔immobilize and protect foot
and ankle
✔✔Purpose of articulating knee orthosis (KO) - ✔✔control knee motion and provides
added stability
- post-surgical KO
- functional KO
✔✔Purpose of Swedish knee cage (KO) - ✔✔mild control for excessive hyperextension
of knee
, ✔✔Purpose of patellar stabilizing brace (KO) - ✔✔improves patellar tracking
✔✔Purpose of neoprene sleeve (KO) - ✔✔compression, protection, and proprioceptive
feedback
✔✔Various gait deviations during use of orthotics - ✔✔- lateral trunk bending
- circumduction
- anterior trunk bending
- posterior trunk bending
- hyperextended knee
- knee instability
- foot slap
- toes first
- flat foot
- pronation
- supination
- excessive stance width
✔✔Possible causes of lateral trunk bending with orthotic use - ✔✔- KAFO medial
upright too high
- insufficient shoe lift
- hip pain
- weak or tight abductors on orthotic side
- short leg
- poor balance
(lateral trunk lean towards orthotic side)
✔✔Possible causes of circumduction with orthotic use - ✔✔- locked knee
- excessive plantarflexion
- weak hip flexors or dorsiflexors
✔✔Possible causes of anterior trunk bending with orthotic use - ✔✔- inadequate knee
lock
- weak quads
- hip or knee flexion contracture
✔✔Possible causes of posterior trunk bending with orthotic use - ✔✔- inadequate hip
lock
- weak gluteus maximus
- knee ankylosis
✔✔Possible causes of hyperextended knee with orthotic use - ✔✔- inadequate
plantarflexion stop
- inadequate knee lock
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔Purpose of hinges/articulating AFO - ✔✔allows motion in sagittal plane and controls
other motions
✔✔Purpose of free motion AFO - ✔✔little or no resistance to plantarflexion or
dorsiflexion, helps maintain alignment and medial/lateral stability
✔✔Purpose of dorsiflexion assist AFO - ✔✔- weak dorsiflexion
- limited resistance to plantarflexion
- assist toe clearance
- help control plantarflexion
[example: posterior leaf spring}
✔✔Purpose of plantarflexion stop AFO - ✔✔- blocks plantarflexion motion
- allows free dorsiflexion
- for weak dorsiflexion or tight plantarflexion
✔✔Purpose of dorsiflexion stop AFO - ✔✔- blocks dorsiflexion motion
- allows free plantarflexion
- weak plantarflexors
✔✔Purpose of static or solid AFO - ✔✔- maximum stability and control of ankle
- ankle position in preferred alignment
- assist with swing clearance and prepositioning
✔✔Purpose of ground reaction AFO - ✔✔- controls forward progression of tibia
- weak plantarflexors
✔✔Purpose of patellar tendon bearing AFO - ✔✔- unloads distal limb
- weak plantarflexors
✔✔Purpose of Charcot restraint orthotics walker boot - ✔✔immobilize and protect foot
and ankle
✔✔Purpose of articulating knee orthosis (KO) - ✔✔control knee motion and provides
added stability
- post-surgical KO
- functional KO
✔✔Purpose of Swedish knee cage (KO) - ✔✔mild control for excessive hyperextension
of knee
, ✔✔Purpose of patellar stabilizing brace (KO) - ✔✔improves patellar tracking
✔✔Purpose of neoprene sleeve (KO) - ✔✔compression, protection, and proprioceptive
feedback
✔✔Various gait deviations during use of orthotics - ✔✔- lateral trunk bending
- circumduction
- anterior trunk bending
- posterior trunk bending
- hyperextended knee
- knee instability
- foot slap
- toes first
- flat foot
- pronation
- supination
- excessive stance width
✔✔Possible causes of lateral trunk bending with orthotic use - ✔✔- KAFO medial
upright too high
- insufficient shoe lift
- hip pain
- weak or tight abductors on orthotic side
- short leg
- poor balance
(lateral trunk lean towards orthotic side)
✔✔Possible causes of circumduction with orthotic use - ✔✔- locked knee
- excessive plantarflexion
- weak hip flexors or dorsiflexors
✔✔Possible causes of anterior trunk bending with orthotic use - ✔✔- inadequate knee
lock
- weak quads
- hip or knee flexion contracture
✔✔Possible causes of posterior trunk bending with orthotic use - ✔✔- inadequate hip
lock
- weak gluteus maximus
- knee ankylosis
✔✔Possible causes of hyperextended knee with orthotic use - ✔✔- inadequate
plantarflexion stop
- inadequate knee lock
