Virtual Gait/Oregon Orthotic Syst.

[Guest guest]

Just thought I'd pass this on......

is the inventor of the OOS, and he fitted me 10+ years

ago. He worked in close association with my PT; they actually had a

weekly 'clinic' and travelled to show off how much the braces

improved walking and to educate the medical community.

One thing, I am probably affected with CMT in my hips or groin to

some extent. But my quads were strong enough to get a lot of benefit

from the braces - reduction of fatigue and stability.

I did not get 100% correction, though. In order for that to happen,

I would have been more reliant on 2 forearm crutches and would have

had to slow down to a 95 year old's pace. I was only 34?; couldn't

do that; it was very, very restrictive. Jean- pointed out that

it was not his braces that weren't working, it was me or my lack of

being able to change old habits. Truth is, I just wasn't as strong

above the quads as they thought. Jean- loved to see 100%

correction, and I think anything less is a disappointment. I was

told by my PT that he could be very abrasive with her patients, so

she discontinued the 'clinic'. I will always respect the man,

though, for what he does for people like us.

I was not strong enough to stop hyperextending my knee even when I

was wearing the braces. Both feet now have a strong heel strike, so

with the ankles being 'locked', I now look like I'm walking on my

heels. Even though, they still help me tremendously. I just go

through a lot of shoes and have had to cut back on the walking. I am

now 45 years old.

Melody

[Guest guest]

Melody,

Thank you for passing on your experience with the Oregon Orthotics braces.

Although you did not get 100% correction, was there a marked improvement in your

mobility? As you adapted to them, did you have adjustments made to move you

closer to the optimum correction? Can you explain why initial additional

correction would have dramatically slowed you down and made you reliant on

crutches? Would that have something to do with the tightness felt in the

thighs? If so, has that tightness persisted? Did J-P give you a set of

exercises to do? Do you use crutches, a cane or a walker now? My hopes with

my new braces are to be able to do more walking with less fatigue. I still have

some traveling to do! I do not have full correction either, but J-P says more

can be done later when the heel and ankle may give a bit. Too much correction

at a time would cause unbearable pressure. With any new braces, I do not know

if practice makes perfect, but practice will make improvement.

And yes, I agree that J-P definitely wants to see his braces do what he has

designed them to do. He does not to make them for anyone unless he really

believes that he can help them. He also stresses that it wll take a lot of hard

and sometimes discouraging work on the part of the wearer. I have a lot more

work to do. With support I can walk, without support I look and feel like a

drunken sailor! I have the confidence that with more practice, I will become

the master of these little black beauties!

Anyone else had any experience with J-P and any of his bracing systems?

Thanks, Ruth

Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2001 19:11:26 -0000

From: mel2mars@...

Subject: Virtual Gait/Oregon Orthotic Syst.

Just thought I'd pass this on......

is the inventor of the OOS, and he fitted me 10+

years

ago. He worked in close association with my PT; they

actually had a

weekly 'clinic' and travelled to show off how much the braces

improved walking and to educate the medical community.

One thing, I am probably affected with CMT in my hips or

groin to

some extent. But my quads were strong enough to get a lot of

benefit

from the braces - reduction of fatigue and stability.

I did not get 100% correction, though. In order for that to

happen,

I would have been more reliant on 2 forearm crutches and

would have

had to slow down to a 95 year old's pace. I was only 34?;

couldn't

do that; it was very, very restrictive. Jean- pointed

out that

it was not his braces that weren't working, it was me or my

lack of

being able to change old habits. Truth is, I just wasn't as

strong

above the quads as they thought. Jean- loved to see 100%

correction, and I think anything less is a disappointment. I

was

told by my PT that he could be very abrasive with her

patients, so

she discontinued the 'clinic'. I will always respect the

man,

though, for what he does for people like us.

I was not strong enough to stop hyperextending my knee even

when I

was wearing the braces. Both feet now have a strong heel

strike, so

with the ankles being 'locked', I now look like I'm walking

on my

heels. Even though, they still help me tremendously. I just

go

through a lot of shoes and have had to cut back on the

walking. I am

now 45 years old.

Melody