Specialized lower limb orthotic care in neuromuscular disorders

Leg muscle weakness is common in neuromuscular disorders and hampers walking. Provision of lower limb orthoses, including ankle-foot orthoses and knee-ankle-foot orthoses, can improve walking. However, individuals may not always receive the best orthosis, which could lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes. This thesis showed that guideline-based provision of lower limb orthoses in expert centers, i.e., specialized orthotic care, was more effective and cost-effective compared to usual orthotic care in individuals with neuromuscular disorders. This suggest that broader implementation of specialized orthotic care could enhance treatment outcomes of individuals with neuromuscular disorders and improve their functioning, while potentially reducing costs.