Documents & Videos: physical therapy

  • How to | Cut an AFO down to an SMO to test a lower level of support How to | Cut an AFO down to an SMO to test a lower level of support

    This how-to video narrated by Cindy Diener, CPO shows the process of cutting a DAFO 3 down to a DAFO 4 to test a lower level of support on a patient before ordering new braces.

  • Case study | 6 yr. old boy - excess plantarflexion | Is he ready for SMO style braces? Case study | 6 yr. old boy - excess plantarflexion | Is he ready for SMO style braces?

    Jill Smith, PT, and Cindy Deiner, CPO, team together to determine if their young patient can tolerate a lower level of support in his next pair of DAFOs.

  • Adam: Hyperextension Adam: Hyperextension

    A young boy with knee hyperextension experiences improvement in stability and gait pattern when introduced to a combined regimen of bracing and physical therapy. This video demonstrates the brace selection process from assessing the patient’s needs, to assessing the outcome.

  • Allen: Excess plantarflexion Allen: Excess plantarflexion

    Allen, a 2 year old boy, exhibits excess plantarflexion and needs a device that will encourage full-contact standing during school-based therapy activities. Allen wears a pair of pre-fabricated JumpStart Kangaroo orthoses to block excess plantarflexion and encourage active dorsiflexion. This video shows the entire bracing process -- from patient assessment to sizing to fitting and adjustments, and finally, evaluation of fit and function. Narrated by Don Buethorn, CPO -- owner of Cascade Dafo, Inc.

  • Cassidy: Swing Phase Inconsistency Cassidy: Swing Phase Inconsistency

    This video follows a pediatric physical therapy session with 8-year-old Cassidy, who presents with hemiplegia. Cassidy wears a DAFO Tami2 orthosis on her affected side to encourage voluntary control of her swing phase inconsistency. This video is narrated by the patient's physical therapist, Vicki Schwartz, and shows different PT exercises throughout the session.

  • Diane: Hyperextension Diane: Hyperextension

    This video, narrated by the patient's pediatric physical therapist Gay Burton, follows 3-year-old Diane during a PT session. Diane has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia) and has spasticity in her lower extremity. Her ankles are in a plantarflexed position and she hyperextends her knees for stability. Diane wears a pair of prefabricated plantarflexion block orthoses (Cascade Dafo's JumpStart Kangaroos). The video includes explanation of various PT exercises during a typical session with Diane.

  • Ellen: Low Tone Pronation Ellen: Low Tone Pronation

    This video follows Ellen, a 2-year-old girl with Down syndrome, during a pediatric physical therapy session. Her physical therapist, Jill Smith, narrates the video and talks about the purpose of various PT exercises shown throughout the session. Includes commentary and tips for working with toddlers. Ellen is wearing a pair of Cascade Dafo's prefabricated UCBL-style shoe inserts, the Fast Fit PollyWog (the PollyWog product has since been updated and replaced by the Fast Fit Chipmunk) to help control her low tone pronation. The shoe inserts provide increased stability and help improve Ellen's gait, especially while walking on uneven surfaces.

  • Justin: Excessive Plantarflexion Justin: Excessive Plantarflexion

    The video shows Justin, a 4-year-old boy with Cerebal Palsy (hemiplegia), using a custom-fabricated DAFO 3 on his affected side, to control excessive plantarflexion (toe walking). This video is narrated by the patient's pediatric physical therapist, Kathy Shapiro. It shows Justin with and without the DAFO during his physical therapy session. Includes commentary about various physical therapy activities, including using a treadmill to work with pediatric patients.

  • Katie: Low Tone Pronation Katie: Low Tone Pronation

    This patient case study follows Katie, a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome, as she is assessed for orthoses. Includes footage of Katie walking with and without orthoses. Katie exhibits low tone pronation and benefits from the support provided from Cascade Dafo's prefabricated JumpStart Leap Frogs - SMO-style orthoses. This video is narrated by Katie's orthotist, Don Buethorn, CPO.

  • Rachel: Excess plantarflexion | Toe walking Rachel: Excess plantarflexion | Toe walking

    This video highlights a young patient with delayed motor skills achieving stability with the JumpStart Leap Frog. Her corrected foot alignment and the the repetitive motion experienced while wearing the brace give her added help for neuromuscular integration and successful movement.

  • Sally: Low Tone Pronation Sally: Low Tone Pronation

    This video follows a pediatric physical therapy session with Sally, a 2-year-old girl. Sally has hypotonia (low muscle tone) and wears pair of Cascade Dafo's prefabricated Jump Start SMO-style orthoses (Leap Frogs). Sally's physical therapist, Beth McCarthy, narrates this video, discussing the various PT exercises performed during the session.

  • Nick: Low Tone Supination, Excessive Plantarflexion Nick: Low Tone Supination, Excessive Plantarflexion

    This video follows the brace selection process for a child who needs control of both excess plantarflexion when working on standing in physical therapy and free plantarflexion when crawling and playing on his own, in addition to foot repositioning for his low tone supination.

  • Niles: Excessive Plantarflexion Niles: Excessive Plantarflexion

    This patient case study video follows Niles, a 5-year-old boy who exhibits excess plantarflexion on his affected side. Niles diagnosis is cerebral palsy (hemiplegia). Niles' pediatric physical therapist, Vicki Schwartz, narrates this video and discusses some of the exercises she uses during the PT session. Niles wears a hinged custom fabricated DAFO 2 to provide foot and ankle stability.

  • Valerie: High Tone Pronation Valerie: High Tone Pronation

    This video follows 4-year-old Valerie during a pediatric physical therapy session. Valerie has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (spasic diplegia). She exhibits strong pronation and has spasticity in her lower extremities. Valerie's physical therapist, Kathy Shapiro, narrates this video and talks about the various exercise performed during the session, and their purpose, including use of a treadmill. Valerie wears a pair of custom fabricated DAFO 4 orthoses.

  • Vanessa: High Tone Pronation Vanessa: High Tone Pronation

    This patient case study video follows 7-year-old Vanessa during a pediatric physical therapy session. Vanessa wears a DAFO 3.5 on her left side and a lower-profile DAFO 4on her right. This video is narrated by Vanessa's physical therapist, Jill Smith. Jill provides commentary about the purpose of the various exercises performed during the session.

  • Article: Catch that Wave

    A Dafo Dynamic article by Susan Witter and Debra Huntsman-Lannom, PT. Debra enlisted a professional surfer to use surfing therapy for children with mobility challenges.

  • Article: Multiple Presentations and Therapy Goals

    A Dafo Dynamic article by Vicki Schwartz, PT and Loretta Sheldon, COA. A prime example how external circumstances can play a critical role in the brace selection process for multiple presentations.