Apr 27, 2025  
2023-2024 Course Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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ORTE 1045 - Thermoplastic Ankle Foot Orthoses

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 1 Lab 6
Internship hours per week 0
Course Description: In this course, students practice skills necessary to accurately vacuum form thermoplastic materials over a variety of positive models to create lower extremity orthoses. Practical skills include making negative wraps, creating positive models, applying components, and finishing techniques. Fabricated orthoses meet specific prescription criteria and are ready for patient fitting.
MnTC Goals
None

Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content
  1. Lower extremity anatomy
  2. Lower extremity biomechanics
  3. Safety
  4. Initiate the treatment plan: ankle-foot orthoses, thermoplastic
    1. Designs
    2. Documentation
    3. Components
    4. Material science
  5. Implement treatment plan: ankle-foot orthoses, thermoplastic
    1. Fabrication procedures, plastic AFO, solid ankle 
    2. Fabrication procedures, plastic AFO, convert solid ankle to PLS trimlines
    3. Fabrication procedures, plastic AFO articulated with self-aligning components                                     
    4. Fabrication procedures, plastic AFO articulated with plantar flexion stop                                     
    5. Fabrication procedures, plastic AFO with varus and/or valgus ankle control                                                        

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. identify functional anatomy and related structures.  (C.1.4)
  2. identify surface anatomy of the lower leg. (C.1.4)
  3. communicate using medical terminology.  (C.1.4)
  4. apply foundational knowledge of biomechanical principles. (C.3.0, C.8.0)
  5. apply biomechanical principles in fabrication decisions.  (B.1, C.3.0, C.8.0)
  6. identify the impact of AFO prescription on the triplanar motions of the foot and ankle. (C.3.2)
  7. practice sound judgement regarding safety of self and others.  (A.1.2)
  8. demonstrate safe and appropriate use of tools.  (C.1.7, C.4.0, C.4.1)
  9. demonstrate safe and appropriate use of equipment.  (C.1.7, C.4.0, C.4.1)
  10. adhere to safety procedures and practices throughout the fabrication process.  (A.1.2, C.4.0, C.4.1)
  11. initiate a treatment plan under direction of an orthotic professional.  (C.2.0)
  12. identify plastic ankle- foot orthosis designs.  (C.8.1.3.a.1, 2,3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
  13. review physical assessment information in treatment plan.  (C.2.1)
  14. confirm physical assessment data is adequate to implement treatment plan. (C.2.2)
  15. determine fabrication requirements from treatment plan.  (C.2.1, C.3.1)
  16. identify ankle- foot orthoses components. (C.8.1.3.a.6a, b, c, d, e, C.8.1.3.c)
  17. select components based on a work order.  (ABC, C.8.1.3.c)
  18. identify properties of materials used in orthotic fabrication.  (C.1.5, B.2)
  19. utilize material science in fabrication and component selection.  (C.1.5, C.8.0)
  20. implement an orthotic treatment plan for AFO, thermoplastic.   (C.4.0)
  21. prepare and fill AFO negative molds/impressions.  (ABC, C.8.1.3.e)
  22. prepare positive models for fabrication of AFOs including category I, II modifications (ABC, C.1.2.1.a, C.1.2.1.b, C.8.1.3.e)
  23. prepare AFO positive model/molds for vacuum forming.   (ABC, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)
  24. locate manufacturers specifications.  (C.1.5)  
  25. apply and align components to a positive AFO model/mold.  (C.8.1.3.b.2, C.8.1.3.c)   
  26. vacuum form a solid plastic AFO.  (ABC, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)
  27. vacuum form an articulated plastic AFO.  (ABC, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)
  28. establish trimlines for plastic AFO with varus and/or valgus ankle control.  (ABC, C.8.1.3.b.3)
  29. establish trimlines to vary flexibility from posterior leaf spring (pls) AFO to solid plastic AFO.  (C.8.1.3.a.1, C.8.1.3.b.1)
  30. establish trimlines to prescription criteria or instructions provided by a practitioner.  (ABC, A.1.3, C.1.7, C.8.0, C.8.1.3 b. 1,2,3)
  31. fabricate a solid plastic AFO.  (ABC, C.1.7, C.8.0, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)
  32. fabricate a posterior leaf spring (pls) AFO from a solid plastic AFO.  (C.8.1.3.a.1, C.8.1.3.b.1)
  33. fabricate an articulated plastic AFO, using self-aligning components.  (ABC, C.1.7, C.8.0, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)
  34. fabricate an articulated plastic AFO, with a plantar flexion stop.  (ABC, C.1.7, C.8.0, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)
  35. fabricate a plastic AFO with modifications for varus and/or valgus ankle control.  (ABC, C.1.7, C.8.0, C.8.1.3.b.1,2,3)

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
None
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
None


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