A case study on interface pressure pattern of two garment orthoses on a child with cerebral palsy

Many studies have shown that medical compression products produce different levels of interface pressure during the usage of the products. However, limited studies have explored the pattern of interface pressure exerted by orthotic garments. This case study aimed to investigate the pattern of interface pressure exerted by two types of orthotic garments on a child with cerebral palsy. A 13-year-old child diagnosed with ataxic spastic diplegia cerebral palsy has difficulty to perform sit-to-stand motion even with a walking frame due to his truncal ataxia. A TheraTogs^TM orthosis and a Dynamic Lycra® Fabric Orthosis (DLFO) were prepared for the child. The child’s sit-to-stand ability without and with the usage of orthoses was recorded using five sit-to-stand tests. The garments’ interface pressure was measured using F-scan (9811E) and F-scan 6.5.1 version software. The pressure was recorded when the child was in sitting position and performing sit-to-stand-to-sit motion. Overall, the child completed the five sit-to-stand test duration within 2.53 ± 0.04 s and 2.51 ± 0.09 s with the usage of TheraTogs^TM orthosis and DLFO, respectively. Higher pressure was exerted by Dynamic Lycra Fabric Orthosis (axillary = 122 mmHg) in contrast to TheraTogs^TM orthosis (77 mmHg) when the child was in a sitting position. Lower pressure was exerted by DLFO (7 mmHg), over xiphoid level and for TheraTogs^TM orthosis is 1.2 mmHg over axillary level when the child was performing sit-to-stand motion. The largest range of pressure was exerted by TheraTogs^TM orthosis with a minimum pressure of 5 mmHg and a maximum pressure of 155 mmHg during sit-to-stand motion. Overall, the DLFO exerted higher mean interface pressure on the child in comparison to TheraTogs^TM orthosis when the child’s body was in a sitting position wearing both upper garment and pants. Both TheraTogs^TM orthosis and DLFO presented a different range of interface pressure over different body segments and activities.