RESOURCES

care and use

Understanding the proper care for protheses and orthoses is important to your own health and mobility. Always follow your physical therapist’s instructions.

Prostheses

The first time you wear your prosthesis home, remove it every 1 to 1.5 hours. Look carefully at your residual limb. If there are any red spots, which disappear in 10-20 minutes, do not worry. Your skin is simply reacting to new pressure areas and weight-bearing spots. If, however, the red area does not disappear in ten to twenty minutes, please contact us. We will schedule a prompt appointment. This is especially important if you are diabetic or have vascular disease.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU EVER ADJUST OR CHANGE YOUR PROSTHESIS

  • The components have been carefully assembled, adjusted and secured according to the manufacturer’s exact specifications and should never be changed by anyone except a qualified practitioner of OrthoFit. Please call as soon as you notice a problem.
  • Do not wear your prosthesis to bed. Put it on when you get up in the morning and take it off before taking a nap or retiring for the night.
  • You will lose fit in your prosthetic socket as your residual limb changes. This is normal, and in most cases, adjustments can be made to your prosthesis to accommodate these anatomical changes.
  • Be prepared to change the amount and/or the ply of your prosthetic socks as the volume of your residual limb changes. This may occur once in a while, once a week, or even a few times a day. You will need to add or subtract socks as your residual limb swells or contracts.
  • Wash your prosthesis daily where it touches your skin- including liners, sleeves, and socks- with a mild soap using a damp cloth or wipes. Remove all soap residue. If you have soap allergies, use only soap that has been approved by your physician. Do not immerse your prosthesis in water. Make sure your prosthesis is completely dry before donning. Velcro, straps, and socks should be replaced as needed.

 

Orthoses

  • Orthoses should be checked regularly, and condition of skin observed. Contact us immediately with any persistent soreness or irritation.
  • Donning and Doffing (Putting on and Taking off) your orthosis can be done by either donning the orthosis first and then the shoe or slipping the orthosis in the shoe first and then slide the foot into the orthosis using it like a shoe horn.
  • To clean your orthosis, wipe with a damp cloth and completely dry with a towel or allow to dry at room temperature. Clean your plastic AFO by using a mild soap and wiping with a damp cloth. Completely dry with a towel or allow the orthosis to dry at room temperature.
  • Wash your foot orthosis using mild soap and water. Towel and air-dry orthosis overnight. Do not put your orthosis in a dryer or dry it with a hair dryer. This may reform the orthosis. You may wipe your foot orthosis with rubbing alcohol to eliminate odors.
  • Clean cotton stockings should be worn with your orthosis and be sure to keep the stocking wrinkle-free.
  • A correctly fitted orthosis may seem uncomfortable at first. During the first few days, alternate times in and out of your orthoses while noting any red or sore areas. As you build-up tolerance, increase wearing time as advised by your physician or orthotist.
  • Please DO NOT attempt to repair the orthoses yourself.
t

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about your protheses or orthoses, please contact us.