Orthosis or Bandage? Which is better for you?

Orthosis

Effects of orthosis

• Stabilization
• Biomechanics
• Proprioception (sensitivity providing informations about the position and movement)

Indications for orthosis usage

• Condition requiring weight relief on the affected joint (degenerative disorder of the cartilage - osteoarthrosis, avascular necrosis)
• Condition after surgery (up to one year)
• Chronic instability of the joints
• Correction of joint deformity

Types of orthosis

Orthosis for complete immobilization

• Used mostly after surgeries or injuries with a goal to secure healing of a bony or soft tissue
• They can replace gypsum cast for a joint fixation

Examples:

• Sprained ankle (in such case the healing of the soft tissues - ligaments - lasts approx. 6 weeks, therefore the ankle should be immobilized for at least 3 weeks and avoiding stepping on the affected foot).
• Fracture of the collarbone (immobilization is applied with Delbet’s brace for 2-3 weeks)
• Acute vertebral algic syndrome (VAS) of the cervical spine (cervical collar for 3-5 weeks)

Corrective orthosis

Examples:

• Poliomyelitis (positioning the joints after surgery or against progression of the deformation)
• Scoliosis (scoliosis brace/torso orthosis restricting the progression of the scoliotic curve)
• Deflected toe (wearing silicone separator between the toes for during the day or night)
• Axial deflection of the knee joints (the legs are in an “X” shape or “O” shape)
• Condition after stroke (ankle joints - support of the dorsal flexion for the foot in order to make walking possible)

Neutral orthosis

Examples:

• Side instability affecting the knee or ankle joints (elastic orthosis with firm cushioning on the sides, preventing joint from jamming sideways)
• Syndrome of the carpal tunnel (night orthosis for adjusting the wrist in a neutral position, excluding sideways movement which irritates the affected nerve)

Proprioceptive orthosis

• Formed by a silicone net without any solid particles
• Orthosis for knee

Example:

• Healed condition after plastic surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament, meniscectomy or attachment pain.

Bandage

Effects of the bandages

• Compression
• Proprioceptive (sensitivity providing informations about the position and movement)

Indication for bandage application

• Attachment pain (tennis elbow, jumpers knee, pain in the Achilles tendon)
• Light injuries of the joint
• Light instabilities of the joints
• Chondropathy of the knee joint patella

Types of bandages

Elastic bandage and flexible joint band

• The fixation of the joint is not significant, however they can lower the pain thanks to the stimulation of the skin mechanoreceptors and lower the transmission of the painful signals
• Increased proprioception leads to improved stability of the joint

Epicondylar bandage

• Use: tennis elbow or javelin thrower’s elbow

Patellar bandage

• Patellar chondropathy, arthrosis of the knee joint

Physicool

• Compression bandage, which you can fill with cooling solution; the goal is to lower the swelling and pain in the joint after e.g. injury, surgery or physical exertion and accelerate healing process