Pediatric Orthotics

The term “ortho” literally means to correct or straighten. When you think of orthotics, you may picture the simple devices worn in shoes to improve mobility and decrease pain. While shoe inserts are indeed orthotics, there are many more complex solutions available for a broad range of conditions affecting the bones, muscles, and joints.

The team at Nemours uses prefabricated or custom-made pediatric orthotics to provide support and increase mobility for children who are born with or develop any number of musculoskeletal abnormalities or conditions. Some examples of pediatric orthotics include:

• ankle foot orthoses (AFOs)
• leg braces
• hand and wrist splints
• shoulder and elbow braces
  
• body braces

Conditions We Treat

• Scoliosis
• Spina bifida
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy
• Peripheral Neuropathies
  
• Arthrogryposis
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Hand/upper extremity conditions
• Trauma

Services We Offer

• The Gait and Motion Analysis Lab at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, which uses a computer to capture a 3-D model of your child’s walk, helps us to determine which type of pediatric orthotic will best support your child’s pattern of movement.
• We offer fittings and adjustments by certified orthotists (specialists who fit and fabricate braces and other supports) to ensure your child’s comfort and stability. In some cases, we can fabricate a custom brace for your child on the day it is prescribed by our doctors.
• We provide thorough follow-up care, since children’s rapid growth often means their orthotics will need to be re-checked frequently.
• At the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children’s Pediatric Engineering Research Lab (PERL), we work with biomedical engineers and students in the research of new devices that can assist and rehabilitate children with neuromuscular disabilities and orthopedic disorders.