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Product OverviewRear leg knee braces
Rear leg ankle braces
Rear leg tarsal braces
Front leg wrist braces
Front leg elbow braces
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Product Reference Guide
Glossary
- Achilles Tendon: A group of five tendons of which four attach to the calcaneus. Dogs and other animals can rupture or tear all or part of their Achilles tendon which may be helped by hock or ankle brace
- Adjustments: When an orthotic or prosthetic device is made and fit on the patient, there are generally changes or "adjustments" to the device to ensure that it fits correctly. Adjustments can occur at any time while the patient is wearing the device due to body weight or functional activity changes
- Ambulatory: A term applied to walking or ability to walk
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) : A ligament in the knee that that provides stability to the knee joint or Stifle joint. Known as the Cranial Cruciate Ligament in dogs and other animals
- Arthrodesis: A surgical procedure to fuse the bones of a joint. Braces or orthotics are generally used to maintain or support the fusion of these bones post surgically
- Ataxia : Loss of balance or muscle coordination
- Atrophy: The wasting of a muscle. Muscles that are not actively used will become smaller or atrophy. Rehabilitation therapists develop protocols to minimize the effects of atrophy
- Avulsion: A tear or detachment of a muscle or ligament from the bone
- Biomechanics: The application of mechanical principals in humans and animals
- Brachial Plexus: A principal nerve that innervates the shoulder and front extremities of a human or animal
- Bulbous: Generally associated with an amputated prosthetic limb, where the bottom of the limb is larger in circumference than the area above the limb
- Calcaneus: Also known as the heel bone
- Carpus: The segment of the limb between the radius and ulna and metacarpus, made up of six to eight bones, depending on the animal species, arranged in two rows and numbered from medial to lateral. It is called the knee in horses and cattle and the wrist in dogs and cats.
- Carpal Joint : The wrist joint in dogs and cats
- Carpal Hyperextension: A breakdown of the ligaments that support the carpal joint in the wrist resulting in collapse from the normal upright position. An orthotic brace can realign the carpal structure
- Casting: In orthotics and prosthetics when a mold or impression of the patient is taken; it is called casting. This cast is taken with fiberglass casting tape or plaster of paris rolls or strips
- Cervical: As it relates to the neck in dogs and cats
- Chronic: Continuing for a long time or reoccurring frequently
- Congenital: Existing at or dating before birth
- Contractures: The loss of joint motion due to structural changes in non-bony tissue such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Braces are used to stretch out the muscles or maintain gains made through physical or rehabilitation therapy
- Cruciate Ligament: The cruciate ligaments are tough fibrous bands that connect the femur (thigh) to the tibia (shin bone). Two cruciate ligaments, the cranial (anterior) and the posterior cruciate ligaments, are found in the knee joint of dogs and cats (and most other domestic animals). These ligaments work like a hinge joint in the knee and are responsible for providing anterior-posterior stability to the knee joint
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD): A noninfectious deterioration of the cartilage which covers the surfaces of the bones in the joints. It is a widely used term to describe a several conditions in dogs that manifests in joint pain, including osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia and inflammatory joint disease
- Delivery: After a brace or prosthesis is fit on a patient, it is given or "delivered" to the patient with instructions on how to use or care for the device
- Distal : Situated away from the point of attachment or origin. In orthotics and prosthetics, it relates the farthest point from the top of the orthoses or prostheses
- Dysplasia: Abnormal growth or development. In dogs usually associated with the hip or elbow joints
- Eversion: To turn outward, as in turning the paw outward or away from the midline of the body
- Extension: The straightening of a limb
- Femur: The large thigh bone that extends from the hip to the Stifle
- Fibula: The small bone next to the tibia in the lower rear leg of a dog
- Fitting: A process in delivering a brace or prosthesis on a patient. The device is applied to the patient and "fit" to their limb or specific body part in order ensure there is an accurate fit.
- Flexion: The decreasing angle or bending of a joint
- Gait : The locomotion or manner of moving
- Hip Dysplasia: Abnormal growth of the hip that generally leads to arthritis in dogs
- Hock: The bones of the hind leg forming and ankle joint. The dog's true heel
- Humerus : The large long bone in the arm or front leg of a dog
- Leg Brace: A device that provides orthopedic support to the front or hind limb portion of the limb
- Luxation: Dislocation generally of the patella but can be in the hips of dogs
- Malunion: When two bones heal in an abnormal position
- Medial: Pertaining to the midline or towards the inside
- Meniscus: The cartilage in the knee between the femur and the tibia which can tear when there is a cruciate injury
- Metacarpal: The five long bones of the front foot
- Metatarsal: The five long bones of the hind foot
- Metatarsal Pad: The a heart-shaped portion of the rear paw of the dog
- Modifications: Alterations to the orthotic or prosthetic device are required from time to time based on how the device is fitting on the patient. These modifications can be with a heat gun in order to relieve a particular area or can be trimmed with special tools
- Non-union: When two or more bones do not heal back together
- Orthopedic Device: Relating to devices such as orthotics or prosthetics which address skeletal disorder or deformities
- Orthoses: The plural of orthosis; more than one; generally used in bilateral applications
- Orthotics: The field of rehabilitation medicine that provides support for weakened body parts
- Orthosis: The actual brace or device that is made to support the weakened body part
- Ostectomy: Surgical removal of all or part of a bone
- Osteoarthritis: Also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), it is a progressive disorder of the joints caused by a gradual loss of cartilage and resulting in the development of bony spurs and cysts in the joints
- Paraparesis: Weakness of the hind legs of dogs
- Paraplegia: Paralysis of the hind legs of dogs
- Patellar Luxation: Dislocation of the kneecap or patella to either the lateral outside or medial inside of the knee. Generally leads to arthritis and knee pain
- Prophylactic: A preventive measure. Braces are sometimes used to prevent or safeguard against injuries
- Prostheses: The plural of prosthesis; more than one; generally used in bilateral applications
- Prosthetics: The field of rehabilitation healthcare which replaces of missing limbs due to trauma, surgery or congenital defects. Artificial limbs or prostheses are the devices which are made
- Prosthesis: The actual artificial limb or device that is made to replace the missing body part
- Proximal: Medical term meaning toward to top or beginning attachment point
- Radius: The smaller of the two bones of the forearm or front leg of a dog
- Scapula: The shoulder blade, wing bone or triangular shaped bone on the back of the shoulder
- Subluxation: Partial dislocation usually of the hip, elbow or knee joint
- Tarsal : Several small bones in the hind leg that make up the hock or ankle joint
- Tarsal Hyper-flexion: Tarsal joint extension beyond the normal range of motion limits
- Thorax : The chest
- TPLO: Tibial Plateau Leveling Ostectomy surgery which cuts and turns the top part of the tibia and subsequently applyies plate to repair a CCL tear
- TPO : Surgery to cut and turn the pelvis part of the hip in order to treat hip dysplasia, usually in puppies
- Thermoforming : A process in the fabrication of an orthotic or prosthetic device using polypropylene, polyethylene or similar type of plastics
- Thermosetting: A process in the fabrication of an orthotic or prosthetic device using acrylic, polyester, carbon or similar based resins
- Valgus: A joint bent outward or away from the midline of the body
- Varus: A joint bent inward or towards the midline of the body